'Complacency and inertia': Hanwha Aerospace apologizes for Daejeon plant explosion

By Ahn Hyo-jung, The Herald Business

Hanwha Aerospace has acknowledged responsibility for failing to maintain a safe working environment at its Daejeon plant following a recent explosion there.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ga Jae-ung, head of the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant, apologized at a briefing held Tuesday at the Yuseong-gu district office in Daejeon. "It appears that complacency and inertia — our inability to abandon decades-old work practices — caused this accident," he said.

The apology came after Ga drew sharp criticism from labor unions and others over remarks he made at a briefing at the scene the previous day, in which he said the cleaning work involved had not been regarded as particularly dangerous.

The explosion occurred while workers were cleaning rocket propellant manufacturing tools that had gunpowder residue on them. The company had explained that gunpowder posed less of a hazard once it came into contact with water. Ga clarified that the remark was not meant to suggest the process was without risk. "We judged it to be less dangerous — not that it was not dangerous," he said. "We should have looked more carefully, and we did not. I am deeply reflecting on that."

On allegations that the company had neglected safety training for the young non-regular workers who died, management said it had complied with legal requirements. Ga nonetheless added, "We did our best in our own way, but that was not enough."

The Daejeon plant has a history of fatal accidents. In May 2018, an explosion during the filling of rocket propulsion containers with solid fuel in a charging room killed five workers and injured four. Just nine months later, in February 2019, another explosion at the same facility killed three more workers.

Hanwha pledged to build a safer working environment in the wake of the latest accident. "We will embrace new and advanced technology to ensure this kind of accident never happens again," Ga said, adding that the company would explore ways to introduce new technology and updated safety measures. He also expressed regret that the accident had occurred while the company was already reviewing new investment and technology for the cleaning equipment this year.

Senior management also said it would accept full accountability. Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il said, "I sincerely apologize to the colleagues who were harmed and to their families. I also apologize to the public for causing such grave concern, and as CEO I will accept any responsibility and punishment that comes my way."