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 Ata Safdar, head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Japan, bowed several
times in apology before an audience that included victims and their
families, among them a 13-year-old boy who now uses an oxygen tank
to breathe.
The news conference in a Seoul hotel marked the first public
acceptance of responsibility by the firm for its role in a bitter
controversy that has raged since 2011.
The government said last year that 92 people were believed to have
died from causes related to the humidifier products - not all them
marketed by Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, which was the group's South
Korean arm at the time.
"Today’s apology, was about acceptance of responsibility for the
harm that Oxy HS (humidifier sterilizers) has caused," Safdar said.
"This is the first time we are accepting the fullest responsibility,
and we are offering a complete and full apology.
"We were late, five years have passed, we are also apologizing far
too late. This is what we are apologizing about."
As he spoke, a man stepped on to the stage, shouting expletives and
slapping him on the back of the neck.
"This is heartbreaking," Safdar said as he asked to be allowed to
continue. "I apologize again. I would request that I am allowed to
finish my statement, please."
Another man who mounted the stage shouted: "It's too late."
Sales of the sterilizers, a liquid added to the water of
humidifiers, were suspended by the South Korean government in 2011.
Safdar said some 178 users of its products are among those believed
by the South Korean government to have been affected, and he
outlined a plan to set up a compensation panel.
South Korea says 530 people had registered claims since 2011 of lung
ailments from using humidifier sterilizers marketed by Oxy Reckitt
Benckiser, and similar products marketed by other firms.
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South Korea is believed to be the only country where the products
were sold, according to a government official.
South Korean prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation
against makers of the products.
The company changed the name of its local unit to Reckitt Benckiser
Korea in 2014.
Reckitt Benckiser's global brands include Dettol antiseptic wash and
Durex condoms.
Monday's apology follows a written statement last month by the local
unit of the company for failing to communicate more quickly with
victims and their families. Last month, the firm established a 5
billion won ($4.4 million) "humanitarian fund", which was in
addition to a 5 billion won fund set up in 2014.
($1 = 1,136.7000 won)
(Additional by Jack Kim; Editing by Tony Munroe and Simon
Cameron-Moore)
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