SEOUL/DAEJEON — South Korea’s industrial sector faced a chaotic morning on June 1, as two separate major emergencies struck manufacturing facilities, resulting in multiple casualties, widespread evacuations, and significant structural damage. Emergency services have been deployed to manage a massive explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace plant in Daejeon and a toxic gas leak at an SK Hynix semiconductor facility in Cheongju.
Casualties and Injuries
- SK Hynix Plant (Cheongju): Seven workers have been transported to an affiliated hospital following a toxic hydrogen fluoride gas leak. Of the 10 people working in the area at the time of the leak, five reported symptoms such as eye irritation, while two others were hospitalized for preventative observation due to their proximity to the gas. In response to the hazard, 3,600 employees from the affected plants were evacuated.
- Hanwha Aerospace Plant (Daejeon): Police and fire authorities fear several casualties following a massive blast. The exact number of deaths or injuries remains unconfirmed, and a detailed medical assessment will only be possible once the active fire is extinguished and the site is fully secured.
Infrastructure Damage
- Hanwha Aerospace Plant: The explosion, which reportedly originated on the first floor of the factory in Oesam-dong, Yuseong-gu, has caused severe infrastructure damage. Over 30 emergency calls were placed starting at 10:59 AM by witnesses reporting loud explosions and heavy smoke. By 11:17 AM, fire authorities issued a Level 1 emergency response. At least one entire building at the facility remains engulfed in flames as crews actively work to suppress the fire.
- SK Hynix Plant: At 10:32 AM, a fire broke out in a 6th-floor gas room connecting the M15 and M15X semiconductor plants, which triggered the leak of hydrogen fluoride gas (measuring 5ppm). Fortunately, the building’s sprinkler system activated immediately and extinguished the flames, preventing significant structural damage. SK Hynix officials confirmed that factory equipment remains intact, there will be no disruption to semiconductor production, and environmental purification systems are currently running to neutralize the gas in the affected area.
Full investigations into the exact causes of both the Daejeon aerospace explosion and the Cheongju factory fire will commence as soon as the respective hazard zones are fully secured by safety personnel.
