Hanwha Aerospace has partially suspended operations at its Daejeon plant following a deadly explosion that killed five workers and injured two others.
In a regulatory filing released Tuesday, the company said labor authorities ordered the halt at the facility under occupational safety laws. The plant, located about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, produces propulsion systems. Workers were cleaning propellant powder residue from tools at the time of the blast. Police, fire officials, the National Forensic Service and the Labor Ministry launched a joint inspection. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said it will provide technical support to determine the cause. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back offered condolences to victims and families and vowed a thorough investigation. The affected lines generated 1.32 trillion won in revenue last year, or 4.94 percent of Hanwha Aerospace's total revenue of 26.7 trillion won.
