A Daejeon explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace facility killed five workers and injured two others on Monday. Firefighters brought the main fire under control around 11:40 a.m., roughly 40 minutes after the first emergency calls. Authorities reported the blast occurred in an empty propulsion test room. Workers were handling cleaning tasks involving explosive materials at the time. Consequently, the Daejeon explosion caused immediate casualties and heavy structural damage inside the plant.
Emergency services received about 30 calls from nearby residents. Callers described hearing a loud explosion and seeing thick smoke rising from the facility. Fire authorities dispatched 25 pieces of equipment and 85 firefighters to the scene. They issued a Level 1 response at 11:17 a.m. to coordinate resources. Meanwhile, search teams recovered the remains of five victims from the debris. Two injured workers managed to escape on their own after the explosion. One suffered serious injuries, while the other sustained only minor wounds.
Additionally, President Lee Jae Myung received a full briefing on the incident. He ordered a thorough investigation into the cause and immediate measures to prevent recurrence. He also instructed officials to mobilize all available resources for rescue operations. In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor suspended all facility operations. Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon pledged a swift investigation into the Daejeon explosion. He also vowed to prevent any secondary incidents at the site.
Hanwha Group issued an official apology for the tragedy. The company expressed deep condolences to the deceased employees and their families. Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il traveled directly to the accident site. He oversaw recovery efforts after convening an emergency meeting in Seoul. Moreover, the company promised full support for the injured workers’ treatment.
Moreover, political parties immediately shifted into a mood of mourning. Candidates for Daejeon mayor suspended campaign activities and expressed condolences. The ruling Democratic Party ordered all campaign rallies nationwide to halt. Loudspeakers on campaign vehicles fell silent ahead of the local elections. The main opposition party chair canceled his scheduled appearances and considered visiting Daejeon.
Authorities are now investigating whether flammable rocket propellant ignited. The facility manufactures large-scale propulsion systems and strategic weapons. Notably, the site has experienced fatal accidents before. Explosions in May 2018 and February 2019 killed five and three workers, respectively. Therefore, safety practices at the plant face renewed scrutiny. The Daejeon explosion will likely prompt calls for stricter workplace safety enforcement.
