The Korean government has established and begun operating a Central Joint Disaster Victim Support Center to handle the aftermath of the massive casualties from the Anjeon Industry factory fire in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, and to provide assistance to victims.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 21st that it has activated the support center to enable victims and their families to quickly receive necessary assistance in one location. The center has been set up at the Daedeok Culture and Sports Center, with 22 victim support agencies participating to provide integrated services including complaint reception, emergency relief, medical and psychological support, and consultation on loans, taxes, and national pension.
Daejeon City and Daedeok-gu have assigned dedicated officials on a one-to-one basis for each victim to strengthen detailed administrative support. The government plans to continue briefings to transparently communicate the on-site situation and recovery process to the public.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held a meeting of the Central Disaster Psychological Recovery Support Group on the morning of the same day and activated a government-wide psychological support system. The Disaster Psychological Recovery Support Group is an organization that oversees and coordinates the psychological recovery of victims in the event of large-scale disasters under the Disaster Relief Act, establishing a cooperative system among agencies to help victims achieve mental stability and recovery.
Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung said at a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Sejong Government Complex, "Please proceed with recovery activities with the safety of on-site firefighters as the top priority." He added, "The government will spare no effort in providing support so that victims can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, police are focusing their investigative resources on identifying the deceased and determining the cause of the fire. Police have confirmed the identity of one body through fingerprints, while the remaining bodies are being identified through DNA analysis.
The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency has established a command structure centered on the police chief and investigation director, deploying 222 personnel including criminal investigation teams, initial response teams, and local police to conduct on-site control and investigation. In addition to a dedicated team of 131 members consisting of the metropolitan investigation unit led by the investigation director, Daedeok Police Station's criminal investigation team, forensic science team, and victim protection team, a separate 66-member victim protection team is also in operation.
Police began on-site forensic examination after the fire was extinguished. Starting at 11 a.m. on the same day, they conducted the first joint forensic examination of the area presumed to be the ignition point together with fire authorities and the National Forensic Service. The Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office has also formed a dedicated investigation team and is working closely with police and fire authorities to determine the cause of the fire.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor, the National Police Agency, and the National Fire Agency plan to conduct a comprehensive inspection through joint forensic examination of the circumstances of the fire's spread, the safety of evacuation routes, and the status of worker safety training.
The fire broke out on the morning of the 20th at the Anjeon Industry factory in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. The accident has resulted in at least 11 deaths and approximately 50 injuries so far, with some reported to be seriously injured. The fire was extinguished in approximately six hours, but most of the factory's main facilities were completely destroyed.
