Police, Labor Ministry Raid Hanwha Aerospace After Deadly Explosion
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are investigating Hanwha Aerospace following an explosion at its Daejeon facility.
- The explosion resulted in five deaths and two injuries, prompting a raid on multiple company locations.
- Authorities aim to determine the cause of the incident and assign responsibility.
Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have launched a forced investigation into Hanwha Aerospace after an explosion at its Daejeon facility claimed five lives and injured two others. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency's specialized investigation team, along with labor ministry officials, raided three locations on April 4: the Daejeon facility, its R&D campus, and the company's Seoul headquarters.
Approximately 34 police officers and 20 labor inspectors were involved in the operation, which began around 10 a.m. The raid aimed to secure evidence to swiftly determine the cause of the accident and identify those responsible. Police stated they would rigorously investigate the secured materials to clarify the cause and accountability for the incident.
The Daejeon Police Investigation Team is raiding three locations, including the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon facility, R&D campus, and Seoul headquarters, starting at 10 a.m. today to swiftly determine the cause of the accident.
The explosion and subsequent fire occurred on April 1 around 10:59 a.m. in the cleaning room of Building 56 at the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant. The cause of the blast remains under investigation. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised concerns about safety protocols at the defense and aerospace manufacturer.
We will rigorously investigate the materials secured through the search and seizure to clearly determine the cause of this accident and the responsibility of those involved.
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.