Hanwha Group and its defense affiliate, Hanwha Aerospace, issued a formal apology Monday following a **deadly explosion** at the company’s **Daejeon facility**. The tragic incident resulted in the death of five workers. Both companies have pledged full cooperation with authorities and committed to a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of this industrial accident.
In a joint public statement, the corporations expressed profound sorrow and devastation over the loss of five employees in the incident, which occurred earlier in the day at Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon plant located in Yuseong-gu.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the deceased employees and offer sincere sympathy to their bereaved families,” the statement read. “We humbly bow our heads in apology to the Korean people for this tragic event.”
Hanwha Aerospace further affirmed its commitment to providing all necessary support for injured employees, including comprehensive medical treatment and assistance.
Daejeon fire authorities confirmed receiving approximately 30 emergency calls around 10:59 a.m. Monday, with callers reporting a loud explosion and visible smoke rising from the industrial site. The blast claimed five lives and left two individuals injured, who are currently receiving medical attention. Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze by 1 p.m. that afternoon.
While the precise cause of the **Hanwha Aerospace explosion** remains under investigation, authorities suspect that rocket propellant may have detonated, leading to the devastating incident.
Following the accident, Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il promptly convened an emergency response meeting at the company’s headquarters in Seoul before traveling directly to the accident site in Daejeon.
The company has established an on-site emergency task force, which is actively collaborating with fire authorities, police, and other government agencies to manage the situation and precisely determine the explosion’s origin.
“We are committed to thoroughly identifying the cause of this accident and implementing every necessary measure to prevent such a tragic incident from ever recurring,” the company stated.
The **Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon facility** is a critical hub for the company’s aerospace and defense research, development, and production activities. This strategic site is responsible for developing and manufacturing large-scale propulsion systems and tactical surface-to-surface weapon systems, including sensitive propellant mixing and loading operations.
Operations at the facility involve the development of propulsion systems for advanced weapons such as multiple-launch rocket systems and missiles. These processes necessitate the careful handling of highly sensitive combustible and explosive compounds, which can ignite or detonate when exposed to shock, friction, or heat.
Tragically, this incident marks the latest in a series of fatal accidents that have occurred at the **Daejeon facility**.
Previously, in May 2018, an explosion at the site resulted in the immediate death of two workers, with three additional workers later succumbing to their injuries. Another explosion occurred in February 2019 within a propellant processing facility, leading to the deaths of three employees.
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