SEOUL: At least five workers were killed and two others injured after an explosion and fire erupted at a facility operated by Hanwha Aerospace, one of South Korea’s leading defence and aerospace manufacturers, officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred at the company’s plant in Daejeon, where production activities involving rocket propellant systems are carried out. Emergency responders said the explosion triggered a major fire, while the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation.
According to officials, the explosion is believed to have taken place during cleaning operations involving explosive-related materials. Two workers survived the incident, including one who reportedly suffered severe burns. Authorities said identification of some victims remained difficult due to the extent of the damage caused by the blast.
Following the incident, Hanwha Aerospace Chief Executive Son Jae-il issued an apology to victims and their families, pledging full cooperation with investigators. The company said all five deceased workers were Hanwha employees, including temporary staff members.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung directed authorities to mobilise all available resources for emergency response efforts and called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
Hanwha Aerospace is a major player in South Korea’s defence sector, producing aerospace systems, propulsion technologies and advanced weapons-related components. The affected Daejeon site is regarded as a sensitive facility tied to national security operations.
The deadly explosion is likely to intensify scrutiny over industrial safety practices, hazardous materials handling and workplace safeguards within high-risk defence manufacturing facilities.