Approximately 339 billion won will be paid to former and current military personnel.
Part of the 8 trillion won court-ordered settlement
“The largest illegal act in U.S. history”
While 3M, a multinational conglomerate, received a court order that it must pay compensation for hearing loss caused by the delivery of defective earplugs to former and current U.S. soldiers, it was reported that 3M began paying a settlement amounting to $6 billion (approximately 8 trillion won) this month.
Fox Business and others reported on the 17th (local time) that 3M began paying settlements worth about $253 million (about 339 billion won) to 30,000 former and current U.S. soldiers this month. This is part of the $6 billion that 3M has agreed to pay to veterans.
3M has been the subject of several lawsuits over the past few years from veterans and others who claim that its earplugs did not protect their hearing, and courts have ordered it to pay damages in many of the trials.
3M later agreed to pay $6 billion in settlement money to resolve hundreds of thousands of complaints.
Although this amount is less than the originally expected settlement amount of 10 to 15 billion dollars (approximately 13 to 20 trillion won), it is bound to have an impact on 3M’s financial condition, Fox Business reported.
It was also reported that the lawsuit over the earplugs was the largest illegal act in U.S. history.
The earplugs that veterans and others claim are defective are products made by 3M and its subsidiary Aero Technologies, which was acquired by 3M in 2008.
The earplugs manufactured by Aero Technologies are said to be designed to protect hearing from explosions and noise while allowing voices to be heard.
Aero Technologies filed for bankruptcy in 2022 amid numerous earplug lawsuits, but the court did not accept it. This is because 3M is not eligible for bankruptcy protection because it promised to pay Aero Technologies’ settlement amount on its behalf. Aero Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M.
Meanwhile, 3M has claimed that earplugs can become loose without being noticed when worn, but that there is no problem if the earplugs are worn correctly.
In addition, 3M said even after the $6 billion settlement, “This settlement is not an admission of liability,” and “The products at issue in this lawsuit are safe and effective when used appropriately.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.