Medical and caregiving costs to be excluded from lump-sum compensation, allowing continued support

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Student victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster will receive priority placement at middle and high schools and can receive up to eight semesters of university tuition support. Victims will also be able to continue receiving treatment and caregiving cost support, excluded from any lump-sum compensation payments.

The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy said Monday it will begin a legislative notice period Tuesday for proposed amendments to the enforcement decree and rules underpinning the revised Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Act, which takes effect in October.

The revised act designates the humidifier disinfectant crisis as a disaster and shifts the framework from "relief" to compensation by the state and corporations, reflecting a court ruling that found the government bears partial responsibility for the disaster.

In response, the proposed amendments include priority placement at middle and high schools for student victims, as well as university tuition support of up to eight semesters through the national scholarship program.

The amendments also specify the types of damages to be paid as compensation. Bereaved families of those who died from humidifier disinfectant exposure will receive survivor compensation, funeral expenses and consolation payments. Those who suffered health damage will receive treatment costs, caregiving expenses, lost income compensation, disability payments and consolation payments.

Treatment and caregiving costs will be excluded from the lump-sum compensation payment and provided on a continuing basis. For treatment costs, the patient's co-payment portion under national health insurance will be billed directly through the National Health Insurance Service, eliminating the need for a separate claims process.

The amendments also call for establishing a Compensation Deliberation Committee under the prime minister to determine eligibility and compensation amounts, with a compensation support unit and expert subcommittee beneath it. A new Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Management Center will also be created to provide victims with medical and legal consultation services.

The contribution rate for raw material suppliers — a long-contested issue — will rise from 25 percent to 45 percent. Finished-product manufacturers had consistently pushed for the increase, arguing that raw material suppliers should bear a greater share of the burden.

The amendments also set out measures to pressure companies to pay their contributions. Those in arrears will be charged a daily surcharge of one-thousandth of the outstanding amount, and delinquent companies will be publicly named in the official gazette and on government information systems.


thlee@heraldcorp.com