Minister orders strict probe of Hanwha Aerospace blast, warns of heavy penalties for safety violations

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon has ordered investigators to rigorously examine whether the explosion at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon facility violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and to take strict action if any breaches are confirmed.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Kim chaired the second meeting of the Central Industrial Accident Response Headquarters on Monday morning in connection with the explosion at a propulsion system facility inside the Hanwha Aerospace weapons manufacturing plant in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.

At the meeting, Kim called for the safe conduct of a joint forensic inspection scheduled for Monday morning, involving the ministry, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the National Forensic Service, and directed officials to thoroughly determine the cause of the accident. He also ordered that follow-up measures needed to prevent future disasters be drawn up promptly based on the inspection results.

Kim stressed that because the incident falls under the scope of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, investigators must move swiftly and rigorously to determine whether the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and other relevant laws were violated — and that strict action must follow if violations are found.

Kim also took to social media, writing that "there is no less dangerous workplace than one that makes weapons." He added that he would keep in mind the words of a sunbae — a senior colleague — from his days as a train operator: "'Even a graze can cause serious injury.' Because even a small mistake can be fatal." He said the joint on-site inspection was about to begin and pledged to "fulfill the duty of the living through a thorough investigation."

Separately from the investigation into the cause of the accident, the ministry said it would also move to strengthen safety management in the manufacturing sector to prevent similar incidents.

Kim ordered a broad emergency safety inspection focused on high-risk industries, including defense and semiconductor manufacturers, citing two factors: findings from ongoing agency investigations showing that contract volumes at the site had surged sharply in recent months, and a fluorine leak at an SK Hynix facility on Sunday that injured multiple workers.

The ministry also plans to hold a nationwide heads-of-agency meeting chaired by Kim on June 4 to discuss ways to strengthen safety management at industrial sites. Regional office directors will be instructed to step up active guidance and inspections to heighten awareness of workplace safety.

The explosion and fire broke out at 10:59 a.m. Monday at the Hanwha Aerospace plant in Oesamdong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, killing five workers and injuring two. The Ministry of Employment and Labor, police and the National Forensic Service began a joint forensic inspection that morning to determine the precise cause of the accident.

The Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant has a history of similar disasters. Explosions in 2018 and 2019 killed five and three workers, respectively, and those responsible were convicted on charges including occupational negligence resulting in death.

Meanwhile, Kim canceled his scheduled attendance at a Cabinet meeting to focus on managing the accident response at the scene. Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun attended in his place.