Authorities raid Cheonan factory firm's offices after fire kills 3 workers

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and police have launched search-and-seizure operations at the headquarters and Seoul office of the company whose Cheonan factory was the site of a fire and explosion that killed three workers. Investigators plan to focus on whether the employer had adequate fire prevention and evacuation measures in place and whether a proper safety and health management system had been established.

The Cheonan branch of the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office is conducting the raids jointly with the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency, the ministry said Thursday.

The investigation stems from a fire and explosion that broke out at around 11:42 a.m. Friday at a factory in Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, killing three workers.

About 40 labor inspectors and police officers have been deployed for the operation. The investigative team plans to seize computers and mobile phones belonging to company officials to determine the cause of the fire and verify whether the employer complied with safety regulations, including fire prevention and evacuation protocols. Investigators will also examine whether a safety and health management system was in place.

The Cheonan branch assembled a dedicated 15-member investigative team on the day of the accident. It said it will conduct a swift and rigorous investigation into possible violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act based on the materials gathered.

The ministry had previously stated that it would actively pursue coercive investigative measures — including search-and-seizure operations and detention — in cases involving fatal accidents or repeated incidents of the same type caused by failure to observe basic safety rules.