SOUTH KOREA – Authorities Launch Full Investigation After Deadly Explosion at Hanwha Aerospace Plant
A large-scale investigation is underway following a fatal explosion at Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon facility that left five workers dead and two others injured. Prosecutors, police, fire officials, and workplace safety authorities are mobilizing dedicated teams to determine the cause of the incident and assess potential safety violations.
On June 2, a joint inspection involving the fire department, police, the National Forensic Service, and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency is scheduled to begin at the accident site. Investigators will examine both the cause of the explosion and the condition of the damaged facility.
The blast occurred inside a 544-square-meter building used for cleaning explosive materials from rocket propellants. According to Hanwha Aerospace, the accident may have happened while workers were removing solid fuel residue from propulsion components. The seven employees involved had reportedly been carrying out cleaning operations since 8 a.m. on June 1 while wearing flame-resistant protective gear.
Authorities stated that the force of the explosion caused extensive destruction, completely damaging the work area and raising concerns about the stability of the structure. A safety assessment of the building will be conducted before debris removal efforts can proceed.
The severity of the blast has also complicated victim identification. Fire officials said some of the deceased could not be immediately identified, prompting DNA testing by the National Forensic Service. Final identification results are expected shortly.
Investigators are also reviewing whether existing safety procedures and inspection systems were adequate. While the Daejeon facility underwent fire safety inspections in both 2023 and 2024, the building where the explosion occurred was reportedly not part of those reviews. Previous inspections had identified issues requiring corrective action, including the replacement of firefighting equipment in the main facility. Officials noted that the affected building may have been excluded from mandatory reporting requirements because of its size.
To support the investigation, the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office has formed a dedicated 10-member task force led by Chief Prosecutor Jeon Youngwoo. The team includes three prosecutors and six investigators. Separately, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency is assembling a specialized unit under Investigation Director Oh Dongwook, drawing personnel from major crimes, metropolitan investigations, and forensic divisions.
The latest accident is not the first serious incident at the facility. Explosions in 2018 and 2019 resulted in five and three fatalities, respectively. Following the 2018 explosion, labor authorities carried out a special inspection and uncovered 486 violations, leading to the facility being assigned the lowest safety rating.
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