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Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon plant, where an explosion on June 1 produced seven casualties, is the company’s principal facility for producing equipment that supports its aviation, defense and space businesses. The site handles development of large propulsion engines, propellant mixing and loading, and the development of tactical surface-to-surface weapon systems.
Hanwha Aerospace traces its origins to Hanwha Techwin (formerly Samsung Techwin). The company acquired and operates businesses that produce aircraft engines and components for propulsion, hydraulic and fuel systems, as well as landing gear and other airframe parts for South Korea’s next-generation fighter (KFX) program.
It has grown from a space-focused operation into a full‑spectrum defense supplier covering land, sea and air systems, establishing itself as one of the group’s flagship companies.
Safety experts and industry observers have long warned that handling explosives and pyrotechnic materials at the plant creates a structural vulnerability to catastrophic accidents.
Work on propulsion systems for weapons such as multiple-launch rocket systems involves handling propellant mixtures that can detonate or ignite from shock, friction or heat. Regulations reportedly require heightened equipment standards, thorough process risk assessments and stricter safety controls. Critics contend that security rules and secrecy have, at times, impeded comprehensive safety inspections.
After a 2018 explosion that produced nine casualties, a special inspection by the Ministry of Employment and Labor found 486 violations and rated the plant’s safety at the lowest level.
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