Number of Government-Recognized Humidifier Disinfectant Victims Rises to 6,080... Final Review by Victim Relief Committee

Victim Relief Committee Recognizes 43 Additional People
About 2,000 of 8,096 Applicants Have Not Been Recognized
Revised Law Takes Effect Next Month:
Government and Corporations to Share Compensation,
Review Process Moves to the Office for Government Policy Coordination

The number of people recognized as victims by the government in connection with the humidifier disinfectant disaster has increased to 6,080 as of September 14, 2026. In advance of an overhaul of the victim relief system next month, the final review under the current law by the Victim Relief Committee has been conducted.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on September 14 that at the 51st meeting of the Humidifier Disinfectant Victim Relief Committee, it recognized 43 new victims and decided to provide them with relief benefits. As a result, the total number of people recognized as victims in accordance with the Humidifier Disinfectant Victim Relief Act is now 6,080.

Yonhap News

At this meeting, the committee also confirmed the damage grades for 72 people who had previously been recognized as victims but whose grades had not yet been determined.

This meeting marks the end of the operations of the Victim Relief Committee under the current law, as the fully revised Humidifier Disinfectant Victim Relief Act will take effect on October 8 of next month.

The key aspect of the revised law is to shift the current relief system, which is based on the state taking responsibility for assisting victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster, to a system in which the government and corporations share liability for compensation. In addition, responsibility for reviewing compensation will be transferred from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to the Compensation Review Committee under the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

However, victim groups are protesting, arguing that the scope of recognized victims has not been sufficiently expanded even with the new law about to take effect. According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, a total of 8,096 people have so far applied to be recognized as victims and to receive relief benefits in connection with humidifier disinfectant. Of these, about 2,000 have not been recognized as victims.

The government has stated that those who have not previously been recognized as victims will be able to reapply for compensation under the revised law, and that it will support applicants throughout the process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.