"2 ex-heads of humidifier disinfectant makers given prison terms for fatal products," 11 Jan 2024

An appellate court on Thursday overturned a lower court's ruling and sentenced two former heads of humidifier disinfectant manufacturers to prison on charges of producing and selling toxic products.

[...] As of 2023, 5,691 individuals were eligible for state-backed compensation related to toxic humidifier disinfectant, including 1,262 dead victims.

Among other corporate heads and executives, Hong Ji-ho and Ahn Yong-chan, former CEOs of SK Chemical and Aekyung Industrial, respectively, were indicted in 2019 on charges of producing and selling toxic humidifier disinfectant, resulting in lung illnesses, such as asthma, and deaths among consumers.

[...]

[Updates available in Korean page translated by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

[...] the court only convicted the defendants who continued to work after the product was manufactured and sold at E-Mart and decided that those who left the company before that were not considered accomplices.

In response, the prosecution explained the purpose of the appeal, saying, "We considered [...] that they influenced the manufacture and sale of the product. Thus, it is necessary to receive the final legal judgment of the Supreme Court [...]."

Earlier, on the 15th, it was confirmed that Aekyung and SK chemicals also submitted appeals after the conviction.