According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Daejeon Employment and Labor Office is conducting a search warrant at the Hanwha Aerospace headquarters in Seoul and the Daejeon facility. A total of 55 personnel, including labor inspectors and police, are involved in the operation.
The team aims to secure documents related to the explosion's cause, including the cleaning process procedures and blueprints, as well as safety management system materials from the company. They will also assess whether adequate safety measures were in place during the cleaning operations.
In the wake of the incident, the Labor Ministry formed a dedicated investigation team of about 20 members to probe the matter. Based on the evidence collected during the search, the ministry plans to thoroughly investigate the causes of the repeated explosions. If violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accident Punishment Act are found, strict accountability will be enforced.
Earlier, at 10:59 a.m. on June 1, a fire caused by an explosion occurred in the cleaning room of the munitions manufacturing facility at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant. The incident resulted in five fatalities, one serious injury, and one minor injury. This facility had previously experienced explosions in 2018 and 2019, which claimed the lives of five and three individuals, respectively.
The Labor Ministry stated, "In cases where multiple casualties occur or when minimal safety regulations are not followed, we will actively utilize forced investigations, including search warrants and arrests, to respond strictly."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.