Kim Seung-youn, chair of Hanwha Group, said on the 1st regarding the fatal accident at the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant, "I offer my deepest condolences and words of comfort to the bereaved families."
Kim said in a statement that afternoon, "I cannot contain my grief at the news that employees who were doing their utmost at work have died and been injured," and stated accordingly.
Kim said, "Provide the utmost respect to the employees who passed away, and carry out with sincerity and speed the response to the damage, including support for the bereaved families and treatment for the injured."
Calling for the full mobilization of the group's capabilities to handle the accident, Kim ordered the formation of a group-level special response task force (TF) with Vice Chair Yeo Seung-ju as Head of Team.
The accident occurred at about 10:59 a.m. that day due to an explosion in the cleaning process room at the Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon plant in Oesam-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
Five people were killed and two were injured in the accident. Among the injured, one was a site manager who had briefly stepped out of the workshop at the time and escaped the worst, sustaining only minor injuries, while the other reportedly suffered severe full-body burns and is in critical condition.
Hanwha Aerospace believes the explosion likely occurred during the process of cleaning tools used in the rocket propellant production line.
Hanwha Group issued a joint statement with Hanwha Aerospace immediately after the accident, but later released another statement containing Kim's message of condolence.
Hanwha Group said, "We bow our heads in apology to the employees who died in the accident and their bereaved families, the injured employees, and to local residents and the public."
It added, "Hanwha Group and Hanwha Aerospace express deep condolences to the employees who died, and we offer our sincere words of comfort to the bereaved families."
It continued, "We will do everything to honor those who passed away," and "We will make sure there is no neglect in support for the recovery of the injured employees."
Hanwha Group said, "We will thoroughly determine the cause of the accident to ensure that such a devastating incident never happens again," and "We will comprehensively inspect, step by step from the beginning, the safety management measures of all group affiliates and commit all resources to creating a safe workplace."
Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, who held a countermeasure meeting immediately after the accident and moved to the site, said, "As the company's CEO, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility for this accident," adding, "The company will provide all necessary support by the side of the bereaved families, and we will take full responsibility to the end for the treatment and recovery of those who were injured."