受害规模存在争议，政府担负事故责任，韩国加湿器杀菌剂事件被定为“社会惨案”

Group 1 - The South Korean government has officially classified the humidifier disinfectant incident as a "social disaster" and is pushing for legal amendments to hold the government accountable as one of the responsible parties [1] - The new policy will change the terminology in the existing Humidifier Disinfectant Victims Relief Act from "incident" to "social disaster," shifting from an administrative relief system to a liability-based compensation system [1] - President Yoon Suk-yeol has issued an apology to the victims' families, marking the second time a South Korean president has formally apologized for this case since 2017 [1] Group 2 - The humidifier disinfectant was introduced in South Korea in 1994, with approximately 50 related products circulating in the market, totaling nearly 10 million units sold by 2016 [1] - Initial health issues related to the disinfectant were reported as "unknown causes of lung disease," particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women [1] - In 2011, a significant number of postpartum women were hospitalized with severe lung injuries, leading to an epidemiological investigation that confirmed the disinfectant as a major health risk [2] Group 3 - By November 2025, 5,942 victims had been officially recognized under the relief law, but compensation efforts have been slow, with the actual death toll potentially reaching 14,000 according to a special committee [2] - Approximately 6.3 million South Koreans used the disinfectant between 1994 and 2011, with around 670,000 experiencing health issues such as asthma and lung diseases [3] - Legal accountability has been pursued against several companies, including Reckitt Benckiser, which was found to have serious issues in product testing and documentation [3] Group 4 - In February 2024, the Seoul High Court ruled that the government should bear compensation responsibility, citing inadequate reviews of the harmfulness of chemical substances [3] - Following this ruling, the South Korean government is implementing a systematic solution to expand compensation responsibilities to both companies and the state, with plans to establish a dedicated compensation review committee [3] - Starting in 2026, the government will fully transition the relief method and plans to collaborate with victims' families to establish a memorial day and hold formal commemorative events [3]