DAEJEON — Five people died and two others were injured after an explosion and fire erupted on a rocket propellant production line at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in Daejeon, South Korea, on June 1, 2026. The blast occurred during a cleaning operation involving water and tools used in propellant manufacturing.
The two survivors escaped the facility on their own, including one who sustained critical burns and was in critical condition, according to local medical official Kim Ju-yeon. Authorities have not yet identified the victims because their bodies were severely damaged, a health official said.
An explosion triggered the fire, but the cause of the blast remains under investigation, a fire official said. A Hanwha official indicated the explosion appeared to have occurred while water was being used to clean explosive material from tools used in making rocket propellant.
All five deceased individuals were Hanwha employees, including two temporary workers in their 20s, the company confirmed. The Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon produces large propulsion engines, handles rocket propellants, and is designated by the government as a security facility, according to emergency official Yoon Seong-su. The site also develops large-sized propellants and surface-to-surface weapons systems.
Authorities were unable to obtain the factory's layout for their investigation because it is protected under national security laws, an official said. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for the mobilization of all available resources to respond to the accident and ordered a thorough investigation, according to his office. “We bow our heads in apology to the victims and their bereaved families,” Hanwha Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Son Jae-il said, pledging to cooperate fully with authorities to determine the cause of the accident.
Following the incident, Hanwha Aerospace shares fell 2.8% in afternoon trade on June 1, 2026, while Hanwha Corp shares dropped 3.4%. Hanwha is a defense and aerospace company with several key manufacturing sites across South Korea.