All 14 workers reported missing in the Daejeon auto parts factory fire have been confirmed dead. Authorities are continuing cleanup operations while focusing investigative resources on determining the cause of the fire and how it spread.
According to fire authorities on the 21st, the locations of the final three missing persons were confirmed between 4:10 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the second floor of the east building. Recovery operations immediately followed, and all three bodies were retrieved. Of the 14 workers who lost contact after the fire broke out, three were first recovered near the third floor of the factory the previous afternoon. Nine additional bodies were discovered at 12:19 a.m. in a mezzanine-level fitness center on the second floor of the east building. Another body was recovered at 12:10 p.m. in the men's restroom on the first floor of the main building.
The fire broke out on the morning of the 20th at an auto parts manufacturing plant in Daedeok District, Daejeon. Although the blaze was extinguished after approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes, most of the factory's main facilities were completely destroyed. The disaster resulted in 74 casualties: 14 dead, 25 seriously injured, and 35 with minor injuries. Two firefighters were among the injured. A National Fire Agency official stated, "No patients are currently in life-threatening condition, but continuous monitoring is required for some patients with airway burns and severe burns."
Fire authorities believe the fire started on the first floor of the east building and spread to the second and third floors, though the exact ignition point can only be confirmed after a joint investigation is completed.
The government has established and begun full operation of a Central Joint Disaster Victim Support Center at Daedeok Culture and Sports Center. Twenty-two victim support agencies are participating in the center, providing integrated services including complaint reception, emergency relief, medical and psychological support, and consultations on loans, taxes, and national pension matters.
The building was constructed with sandwich panels, which appear to have accelerated the fire's spread and complicated suppression efforts. Kim Seung-ryong, head of the Central Emergency Rescue Control Team and Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, explained, "The building's sandwich panel structure intensified the fire."
Since the fire occurred during lunch hour, many workers were in a break area between the second and third floors of the east building. Dense smoke filled staircases and other main evacuation routes, making rapid escape difficult. Some workers were forced to escape through windows.
Internal factory conditions also appear to have contributed to the rapid spread. The site had significant accumulations of cutting oil and grease, and sludge remaining in dust collection equipment and piping was identified as a factor that intensified the blaze. Approximately 200 kilograms of sodium stored inside the factory also reportedly complicated suppression efforts. Because sodium poses explosion risks upon contact with water, conventional firefighting methods were limited, adding burden to initial response and suppression operations.
Structural modifications made during building expansions are also cited as contributing to the casualties. The east building was originally constructed as a single-story structure in 2010, then expanded in 2011 and 2014 to include a second-floor factory, third-floor parking area, and rooftop parking. The mezzanine fitness center where deaths were concentrated was a space adjacent to a ramp that was not clearly indicated on building plans. Daedeok District officials stated, "The fitness center space does not appear on the floor plans or building registry. It appears to have been constructed without proper permits."
The factory's CEO personally apologized to bereaved families. Son Joo-hwan, CEO of Anjeon Industrial Co., visited the family waiting area and said, "I have committed an unforgivable sin. I will do my utmost to provide all support." However, families responded with strong objections, demanding responsible measures and concrete support plans beyond a simple apology.
Police and relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, evacuation circumstances, and safety management practices. The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a dedicated team led by the investigation chief, conducting site control, identity verification, CCTV analysis, and interviews with relevant parties. Fire authorities and the National Forensic Service conducted an initial joint investigation. The Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office has also formed a dedicated investigation team and is working with police and fire authorities to determine the cause.
President Lee Jae-myung visited the fire site that day to assess damage and review search and recovery operations, ordering an all-out response. The president urged site personnel to take extra precautions to prevent secondary accidents.