Hanwha expresses 'deep condolences'; CEO Son Jae-il chairs emergency meeting

An ambulance enters the main gate of Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant in Oesamdong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on Sunday morning as the area remains cordoned off following an explosion. [Yonhap]
An ambulance enters the main gate of Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant in Oesamdong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, on Sunday morning as the area remains cordoned off following an explosion. [Yonhap]

Hanwha Aerospace said Sunday's explosion occurred in the cleaning room of Building 56, where workers inject viscous solid rocket propellant into containers using valves and tools, then wipe down the equipment.

The blast struck the company's factory in Oesamdong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon at 10:59 a.m. Sunday.

According to police and fire department authorities, five people were killed, one suffered serious full-body burns and one sustained minor injuries.

Hanwha Group issued a statement saying it was "grief-stricken and heartbroken that five precious employees lost their lives in the accident at the Daejeon plant," adding that Hanwha Group and Hanwha Aerospace "express their deepest condolences."

The group said it prayed for the souls of the deceased and offered its "sincere condolences to the bereaved families." It added that it would "spare no support" for the treatment of injured workers and wished them a swift recovery. The company also "bowed its head in apology to the public."

Hanwha Aerospace convened an emergency meeting at its Seoul headquarters, chaired by CEO Son Jae-il, immediately after the accident. Son left for the scene as soon as the meeting concluded.

Hanwha Group said it would "thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident to ensure such a devastating incident never happens again."


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