The joint memorial altar set up on the first floor of Daejeon City Hall for the 14 victims killed in the fire at Anjeon Industrial, an auto parts manufacturer in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, saw an unbroken procession of mourners on Wednesday, the third day since the disaster.
Visitors from across the country laid a single white chrysanthemum, bowed their heads in silent tribute, and stood for long moments gazing at the memorial tablets with grief-stricken expressions.
Kim Yong-jae, 86, who traveled from the nearby city of Sejong, wiped tears from his reddened eyes after placing his flower. "I was so shocked when I saw the news that I came alone just to pay my respects. I can't imagine how torn apart the families must feel," he said in a trembling voice. "It's devastating that young people are gone before they even had a chance to bloom. I hope something like this never happens again."
Bereaved families who lost loved ones in similar industrial accidents also came to offer condolences. Kim Mi-suk, who lost her son, the late Kim Yong-gyun, in an industrial accident at the Taean coal-fired power plant in 2018, said, "Seeing accidents repeat themselves, I thought about how hard it must be for the families and just came without hesitation." She added, "No matter how much we stress safety, nothing changes."
Families of victims from the Aricell factory fire — a disaster strikingly similar to the Anjeon Industrial blaze — also visited the memorial. Yang Han-woong, co-chair of the Aricell Countermeasures Committee, and three bereaved family members paid silent tribute and said, "The complete recovery of remains and the investigation into the cause must be carried out thoroughly from the very first step."
Government officials and politicians also paid their respects throughout the day. Heo Min, commissioner of the Korea Heritage Service, Jeong Yong-rae, head of Yuseong-gu district, Daedeok-gu council members, and police officials visited the altar to console the families. Bereaved family members, who had been receiving mourners with stoic expressions, eventually broke down in tears. Many others, overwhelmed by grief, could not bring themselves to leave the second-floor waiting room reserved for families.
Sohn Ju-hwan, CEO of Anjeon Industrial, visited the memorial for a second consecutive day, accompanied by about 20 employees. He knelt deeply before the victims' portraits, placed chrysanthemums, and wiped away tears. Speaking to reporters, Sohn said, "Not just the bereaved families — the employees in there were all family to me," his voice breaking. However, when asked whether he acknowledged illegal expansion and renovation of the building, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "I don't know yet. I think we'll only know once the investigation is complete."
Meanwhile, seven agencies including police, fire authorities, and the National Forensic Service launched a joint forensic investigation at approximately 10:30 a.m., deploying 59 personnel to determine the cause of the fire. Two family members of victims were present at the scene to ensure the fairness of the investigation. Authorities confirmed the identities of 13 of the 14 deceased, which had previously remained unidentified. Partial remains believed to belong to previously identified victims were also found at the scene. Additional forensic examinations are underway for one victim whose identity has been confirmed but whose comprehensive assessment is still in progress, and for one victim whose identity has not yet been established.
The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency and the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office executed search warrants at Anjeon Industrial's headquarters, its Daehwa-dong factory, and CEO Sohn's residence. Labor authorities have charged Sohn and company executives with violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
