13 Deaths in 8 Years: Deadly Explosions Hit Hanwha Aerospace Plant

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Five workers were killed in an explosion at Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon facility in Oesam-dong, Yuseong District, as they cleaned tools used in rocket motor production. The plant also experienced deadly explosions in 2018 and 2019 that killed eight people, bringing the total number of fatalities at the site to 13 over eight years. Labor authorities and police have opened probes to determine whether the company violated the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and to identify who bears responsibility for safety management.

According to fire officials, the blast ripped through wash room 56 at the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant at about 10:59 a.m. on the 1st, killing five people and seriously or moderately injuring two others. Officials said all of the deceased were on-site production workers, not researchers. Two victims were contract employees in their late 20s who had been on the job less than two years; the others were two workers in their 50s and one in his 30s. Because the blast heavily damaged some bodies, authorities asked the National Forensic Service to assist with identification.

One injured worker was taken to a hospital with extensive burns and remains in treatment; the other suffered minor burns to the neck, was treated and released. Emergency services logged about 30 calls to 119 immediately after the incident reporting loud explosions and heavy smoke. Fire authorities declared a Level 1 response at 11:17 a.m. and deployed 121 personnel and 32 pieces of equipment. Initial containment was completed around 11:49 a.m., and the fire was fully extinguished at 1:07 p.m. Building 56 was destroyed by the blaze.

Investigators believe the explosion occurred while workers were washing tools used in rocket motor manufacturing with water and detergent. Hanwha said the blast was not linked to cleaning completed rocket motors, but to wiping explosive residue off tools used during production. The company said the explosive material in question is normally neutralized on contact with water, so the cleaning step had been treated as a lower-risk operation.

That the work area was not subject to direct on-site inspection by fire authorities is expected to draw scrutiny. Fire officials said the plant received fire-safety assessments once last year and once this year. During those reviews, inspectors examined the main building and pointed out areas for improvement, while Hanwha carried out voluntary checks on individual buildings. Fire authorities note that buildings under a certain size may self-inspect and are not required to submit separate reports to the fire station. Critics argue, however, that a facility handling hazardous materials at a nationally important defense site warranted direct inspection.

Questions also remain about personal protective equipment. Hanwha said it provided flame-resistant clothing but declined to offer detailed information on whether the garments were worn or on their performance, citing internal security concerns. The company also declined to release work orders and process specifics for the same reason.

Hanwha Group and Hanwha Aerospace issued apology statements. Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon urged the company to “honor the deceased with the highest respect and carry out recovery efforts promptly and sincerely,” and ordered the group to mobilize all available resources to manage the aftermath.

The government moved quickly to investigate the cause. The Ministry of Employment and Labor formed a dedicated investigation team of roughly 20 people, and the Daejeon police set up a special unit to probe the explosion’s cause, on-site safety practices and lines of responsibility. Authorities plan a joint on-site inspection with relevant agencies on the 2nd to determine the cause. President Lee Jae-myung, after receiving a briefing, ordered officials to “mobilize all available resources for rescue and recovery.”

Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon plant is a core domestic defense facility responsible for producing large propulsion systems and tactical weapons. The site suffered a deadly explosion in May 2018 that killed five people and another in February 2019 that killed three workers. With the latest incident, 13 workers have died in explosions at the same facility over the past eight years.