Anchor: Reckitt Benckiser(RB) Korea began accepting applications for compensation from the South Korean victims of its toxic humidifier sterilizers. The company announced a compensation plan worth up to 350 million won, but the victims are saying that the compensation package is only being provided to sweep the issue under the rug.
Our Kim Bum-soo has more.

Report:
[Sound bite: Ata Safdar - CEO, Reckitt Benckiser Korea (May 2 / English)]
"The detailed design of the final plan will come after consultation with patients to ensure that their voices are heard."
 
Reckitt Benckiser(RB) Korea on Sunday finalized its compensation package, under which up to 350 million won will be provided to class one and two victims of its humidifier disinfectant.

In addition to previous measures announced in June, the company decided to provide an additional 50 million won to families with multiple victims.

The British company started to receive applications for the compensations of 73 deaths and more than 100 cases of lung injuries.

But many of the victims opposed the measures, saying RB Korea is being insincere.

[Sound bite: Kang Chan-ho - head of the victims group (Korea)]
“It seems as if [they are] only trying to evade the parliamentary investigation and to divide the victims' opinions."

[Sound bite: Ahn Eun-ju - class three victim ]
“[They] only talk about class one and two victims and how the compensation plan is only for them. Class three and four victims have become victims who are not in fact victims."

They stressed that if a similar case occurred in Britain, where RB's main headquarters is based, it would have to pay at least ten percent of its revenues in fines in addition to the compensation measures.
 
The critics also point out that the multinational company is taking advantage by directly negotiating with the individual victims, who have weak bargaining powers.

RB Korea said if the South Korean government finds more victims through its investigation, it will come up with an additional compensation plan for them. 

After the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that humidifier sterilizers were the cause of pulmonary illnesses and deaths in 2011, the government conducted two epidemiological tests to confirm 221 victims. Among them, 177 used RB Korea products. Out of 90 deaths, at least 70 used the products made by the company.
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.