In 2016, South Korean manufacturers and distributers (SK Chemicals, SK Innovation, Aekyung Industrial Co., Lotte Shopping, Homeplus, LG Household & Health Care, E-mart, and GS Retail), as well as British-based firm Reckitt Benckiser, were connected to humidifier disinfectants that contained chemicals fatal to the lung. About 500 people were reported to have died or been injured after inhaling poisonous chemicals used in humidifier disinfectants manufactured and sold in South Korea from 2001 to 2011. A recent reporting found South Korean companies involved in these alleged deaths and injuries failed to address the issue. Among them, two companies rejected the mediation plan, holding up the process of compensation for victims.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre asked the eight South Korean companies named in the recent reporting to respond to concerns about their failure to address the incident and facilitate the mediation process; one company responded (response included).