SK Innovation and SK Chemicals were handed over to trial on charges of hiding reports on the harmfulness of the humidifier disinfectant.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on May 23 indicted SK Innovation, SK Chemicals and Park Chul, 53, vice president of SK Chemicals, on charges of violating a special law aimed at saving damages from humidifier disinfectant.
According to prosecutors, SK Chemicals and others are suspected of failing to submit a report on inhalation toxicity of humidifier disinfectants during an on-site investigation by the Ministry of Environment last year, saying they do not have a report on inhalation toxicity.
The data, which was not allegedly submitted by SK Corp. to the ministry, is the result of a harmful test conducted in 1994 when the company, formerly SK Innovation and SK Chemicals, developed the country's first humidifier disinfectant.
In a report titled "Study on Inhalation Toxicity of Humidifier Sterilizers" conducted by a research team at Seoul National University's Veterinary College, additional research is needed to verify the harmfulness of humidifier disinfectants made from CMIT and MIT materials.
The ministry filed a complaint with the prosecution against SK Chemicals and others on April 12. This is the first case in which a complaint or indictment has been made with the clause since the special law on humidifier disinfectant was enforced in 2017. Vice President Park has already been indicted and is on trial for concealing the results of the harmful test.