Hanwha Aerospace Co., a defense affiliate of Hanwha Group in South Korea, has temporarily stopped production at its Daejeon facility following a fatal explosion. The incident, which occurred about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, resulted in the death of five individuals and injuries to two others. Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion.
The explosion took place while workers were cleaning propellant powder residue from tools used in the production of propulsion systems. Investigators are focusing on identifying the ignition source and assessing the presence of flammable materials at the site. The Daejeon plant, known for producing various weapons systems such as the Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers and long-range surface-to-air missiles, is a crucial defense facility designated as a secret defense factory.
Last year, the affected production lines at the Daejeon facility contributed 1.32 trillion won (US$870 million) in revenue, accounting for nearly 5% of Hanwha Aerospace’s total revenue. In response to the incident, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has mobilized its affiliated bodies to offer technical support for the investigation. DAPA has also established a task force to oversee the situation following the tragic explosion and fire that claimed five lives and left two individuals injured.
