Five killed in explosion at South Korean aerospace factory
Five killed in explosion at South Korean aerospace factory
Updated at: June 3, 2026 at 05:45 AM
On June 1, 2026, a tragic explosion occurred at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in Daejeon, South Korea, leaving five employees dead.
The incident took place around 10:59 a.m. while workers were cleaning residue from tools used to manufacture rocket propellant.
The resulting fire was extinguished later that afternoon.
Among the employees present, two others were injured, one of whom sustained severe burns.
Hanwha Aerospace, a major South Korean defense contractor, has established an emergency headquarters and promised a comprehensive investigation.
The company stated that the cleaning process involved was not previously classified as high-risk, though they have been increasing automation in their facilities.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has called for a thorough inquiry, noting that executives could face legal consequences under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act if safety failures are confirmed.
This is not the first such incident for the Daejeon plant, which saw similar fatal explosions in 2018 and 2019.
