Toxic humidifier survivors face daily struggles, discrimination
"I want to take my shirt off and exercise like my friends do, too!" Lim Jae-i, 80, cannot forget her grandson's anguished cry years ago. Lee Hyun-seo, 25, was exposed to humidifier disinfectant — an antibacterial liquid added to humidifier water — while still in the womb and was born prematurely. He cycled in and out of hospitals with nontuberculous lung disease, a chronic lung condition…
For years, the toxic effects of humidifier disinfectant have plagued the lives of its young survivors in Korea. One 80-year-old grandmother, Lim Jae-i, still recalls the heart-wrenching cry of her grandson, Lee Hyun-seo, who was exposed to the harmful substance in the womb. Lee, now 25, faced a lifetime of chronic lung disease, an unrelated condition to tuberculosis, and endured the relentless struggle of breathing laboredly.
As he entered his teenage years, Lee reached a breaking point. Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw the irreversible damage done to his body - his chest left concave by years of medication and breathing difficulties that never ceased. The realization dawned on him that his life would never be the same as his peers. The children most affected by the humidifier disinfectant disaster are now young adults, facing the daily grind of their ordeal.
A 2025 survey conducted by Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment revealed that 1,213 people responded, with 321 (26.5 percent) of them being in their 20s or younger. The public's perception of the tragedy has shifted, no longer solely focused on the infant fatalities but now encompassing the ongoing struggles of the survivors.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Toxic humidifier survivors face daily struggles, discrimination koreatimes.co.kr
