President Lee Orders Full Mobilization of Resources After Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon Plant Explosion

Order Given for Rescue Efforts and Accident Response
"Thorough Investigation of Cause, Measures to Prevent Recurrence"
Prime Minister Kim Urges Agencies to Focus on Firefighting, Transport of the Injured, and Safety of Rescue Personnel

On June 1, President Lee Jae-myung ordered the mobilization of all available resources for rescue operations and accident management following the explosion that occurred in a research lab at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon facility.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Chief Presidential Secretaries meeting held at the Blue House on May 28, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Presidential Spokesperson, announced to the press that day, "Upon receiving a report about the explosion at the factory research lab located in Daejeon today, President Lee instructed that all available resources be fully mobilized for rescue operations and accident management."

President Lee also called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. Kang added, "President Lee has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident and the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence in the future."

According to the fire authorities, a report of an explosion at the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon facility in Oesam-dong, Yuseong District, Daejeon, was received at 10:59 a.m. on June 1. Immediately after the accident, fire authorities began firefighting and rescue operations at the scene.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also instructed all relevant agencies to respond with full force. He directed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Fire Agency, the National Police Agency, and the Daejeon Metropolitan Government to mobilize all available equipment and personnel to extinguish the fire and rescue victims, ensuring that no additional damage occurs. He further urged all related agencies to provide necessary support in personnel and equipment for on-site response, ensure prompt transportation of the injured to medical institutions, and secure the safety of firefighters engaged in rescue activities.

The Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon facility is known to handle defense-related products such as rocket propulsion systems. In May 2018, an explosion occurred while solid fuel was being loaded into a rocket propulsion container at this facility, resulting in five deaths and four injuries. Another explosion during propulsion system separation work in February 2019 resulted in the deaths of three workers.

The government is expected to conduct a thorough review of the exact circumstances of the accident and the overall safety management system once rescue and recovery operations are completed. Given that serious explosions have occurred repeatedly at the same facility in the past, the investigation will likely focus on the work processes, hazardous materials management, and the adequacy of measures to prevent recurrence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.