The Silent Killer of South Korea That Murdered 1500 Young People
Rotten Mango・70 minutes read
A South Korean family tragically loses their baby and mother to a mysterious lung illness, later linked to a chemical in humidifier sterilizers marketed by Oxy. The scandal leads to legal battles, protests, and a wave of chemophobia in South Korea, impacting thousands of victims and sparking calls for accountability and justice.
Insights
- A harmful chemical in a popular humidifier sterilizer in South Korea led to tragic deaths due to lung conditions, sparking outrage and legal battles as companies, including Oxy and Yugong, faced accusations of negligence and lack of accountability.
- The aftermath of the humidifier sterilizer scandal in South Korea revealed a complex web of corporate responsibility, government oversight failures, and emotional toll on victims and their families, with calls for acknowledgment, apologies, and compensation rather than just financial settlements.
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Recent questions
What caused the mysterious lung illness in South Korea?
The lung illness in South Korea was linked to a chemical called phmg found in a popular humidifier sterilizer. This chemical, used by Oxy without proper testing, was associated with fatalities and severe health consequences in affected individuals.
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Summary
00:00
Mysterious Lung Illness Plagues South Korea's Families
- In May 2009, the Lee family, with a 3-month-old baby, sought help in a South Korean emergency room.
- The baby had been healthy until recently when he started experiencing hiccups that turned into severe coughing fits.
- Medical staff found the baby's lung tissues turning solid, making breathing impossible.
- Despite multiple doctors' efforts, they couldn't diagnose or treat the baby's condition, leading to his passing on May 5th, 2009.
- Just four days later, Mrs. Lee was rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms, her lung tissues also solidifying.
- Mrs. Lee refused treatment, believing she had transmitted an illness to her son, leading to his death.
- Mrs. Lee passed away a month later, leaving Mr. Lee devastated and alone.
- Dr. Hong, a doctor in South Korea, noticed a pattern of infants and pregnant women with lung issues, leading to high mortality rates.
- Dr. Hong reached out to medical colleagues for help in understanding and combating this mysterious illness.
- Other doctors shared similar cases, indicating a widespread and concerning trend of lung-related illnesses in South Korea.
15:07
"Fatal Lung Condition Linked to Humidifiers"
- Baby showed symptoms of illness, including shallow breathing and exhaustion.
- Parents maintained warm, humid room, used humidifier, and fed soft, bland foods.
- Doctor conducted CT scans, revealing unhealthy, white lungs resembling bone.
- Baby passed away due to lung condition, despite upcoming first birthday celebration.
- Doctor discovered similar cases, mostly affecting children and pregnant women.
- Doctor contacted Korean CDC, highlighting airborne lung condition in spring.
- Investigation revealed humidifiers as common factor in affected households.
- South Korean families commonly use humidifiers due to dry winters and skin issues.
- Oxy brand humidifier sterilizer, popular in Korea, effectively purifies air.
- CDC linked lung condition to bacteria from humidifiers, leading to fatalities.
28:57
Unsafe Products: Tragic Consequences and Corporate Responsibility
- Companies avoid selling dangerous products to prevent lawsuits and ensure consumer safety.
- Recent updates warn against using certain floss, candles, eye drops, and bottled water due to harmful chemicals.
- A humidifier sterilizer, approved by the government, led to tragic deaths in young families.
- The sterilizer contained a chemical called phmg, initially released by a South Korean company, Yugong.
- RB Group, a major corporation, purchased phmg from Yugong for industrial cleaning purposes.
- The chemical was certified non-toxic by the South Korean government for rug cleaning.
- Oxy, part of RB Group, used phmg in a humidifier sterilizer without proper testing.
- Oxy marketed the sterilizer heavily, potentially creating a false demand through paid articles.
- The government's lack of regulation allowed the unsafe product to reach consumers.
- Yugong had previously sold phmg to an Australian company, warning about inhalation hazards.
43:52
Corporate negligence in product safety scandal.
- Legal responsibility debate between Oxy and Yugong regarding informing consumers about product dangers
- Oxy claims innocence due to assuming non-toxicity, while Yugong argues Oxy should conduct new tests for non-industrial use
- Discussion on big companies prioritizing profit over potential legal fees, referencing the opioid crisis
- Oxy hires professors in December 2011 to test humidifier sterilizer before public awareness of product dangers
- Professors later jailed for taking bribes from Oxy, raising suspicions
- Oxy's transition to a limited publicly traded company coincides with legal changes, limiting individual liability
- CDC connects Oxy's product to mysterious lung disease in South Korea, leading to recalls and investigations
- Heartbreaking stories of victims, including a boy with irreversible lung damage and a firefighter blaming himself for his son's illness
- Victims' families blame themselves despite innocence, highlighting emotional toll and physical consequences
- Public outrage in South Korea towards Oxy, Yugong, and government for lack of oversight and accountability
59:56
Humidifier disinfectant scandal in South Korea
- A professor in South Korea highlighted the risks of using disinfectants in humidifiers, as inhaling them makes them consumable.
- Distributors of phmg, a disinfectant, did not consider the health risks of inhaling chemicals in vapor form.
- Consumers trusted the safety of humidifier sterilizers assuming they had undergone necessary tests and were family-friendly.
- Lawsuits were filed against oxy and yugong (now SK Chemical) due to health issues caused by their products.
- SK Chemical, a major conglomerate in South Korea, faced accusations of influencing court decisions in their favor.
- Victims sought acknowledgment and apologies rather than just financial compensation from the companies.
- Oxy faced backlash and protests for their delayed response and lack of compensation for victims.
- Oxy's CEO eventually apologized and set up a humanitarian fund for victims, categorizing compensation based on the impact on victims' lives.
- The number of victims and deaths from the humidifier sterilizers varied, with some estimates suggesting up to 16,000 indirect deaths.
- Oxy attempted to shift blame onto the South Korean government, leading to legal battles and public outrage.
01:14:16
Chemophobia in South Korea: Vinegar replaces chemicals
- A product in South Korea, responsible for the deaths of over a thousand people, has sparked a wave of chemophobia in the country, leading to a strong aversion to chemical cleaning products. This has resulted in many Koreans opting for vinegar mixtures for cleaning purposes due to safety concerns.
- A 13-year-old boy, Jun, who suffered severe health consequences from a toxic humidifier disinfectant, delivered a speech to the Korean Congress detailing the limitations and struggles he faces due to the product's impact on his health. Despite the devastating effects, no one has taken responsibility for the distribution of the harmful disinfectant, leaving victims like Jun without justice.
