Authorities believe deadly Daejeon factory fire started on first floor
Published: 22 Mar. 2026, 19:44
Updated: 22 Mar. 2026, 20:32
![Investigators are seen outside an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 22 after a fire broke out at the facility on March 20. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/29e23e7d-5558-40c7-a087-f17af4800ebb.jpg)
Investigators are seen outside an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 22 after a fire broke out at the facility on March 20. [NEWS1]
DAEJEON — A deadly fire at an auto parts factory in Daejeon on Friday is believed to have started on the first floor of the production building, as authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the blaze that left 14 dead and 60 more injured.
The fire broke out at an Anjun Industrial factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, at around 1:17 p.m. on Friday. At the time, employees who called for rescue reported, “The fire started on the first floor and is spreading to the second and third floors,” according to the Daejeon Daedeok Fire Station, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency and Anjun Industrial on Sunday.
The fire is believed to have started near Line 5 of the production facility, where part of the structure later collapsed, according to an interview that representatives of Anjun Industrial gave to the JoongAng Ilbo.
Joint inspection planned with families
A joint investigation team comprising police, fire authorities and the National Forensic Service (NFS) conducted a preliminary on-site inspection at 11 a.m. on Sunday in preparation for a full forensic examination scheduled for Monday.
Due to concerns over a possible structural collapse, investigators did not enter the building and instead inspected the exterior. Two representatives of the bereaved families of the 14 who died in the fire also took part in the inspection. They requested that investigators take photographs and assess the evacuation infrastructure.
![The second and third floors of a building inside an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, are seen on March 22 after a fire broke out at the factory on March 20. [DAEJEON METROPOLITAN CITY]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/6b9abff8-f0d7-4c54-8d8b-6a15da71c472.jpg)
The second and third floors of a building inside an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, are seen on March 22 after a fire broke out at the factory on March 20. [DAEJEON METROPOLITAN CITY]
The Ministry of Employment and Labor had earlier on Saturday decided to allow family participation to ensure transparency in the investigation process.
“We held a meeting among relevant agencies to discuss safety measures and the direction of the investigation,” said an official from the police forensic unit. “In line with presidential instructions, two family representatives will be present during the joint inspection to help thoroughly determine the cause.”
Investigators are examining all possibilities, including overheated machinery, electrical factors and the mishandling of chemicals. While no internal CCTV footage has been secured, authorities have obtained external surveillance footage and are analyzing it.
![Officials attend a joint press briefing on a fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20 at Daejeon City Hall on March 22. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/cbb26636-c7d2-4b1f-a4f8-977bef52c96b.jpg)
Officials attend a joint press briefing on a fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20 at Daejeon City Hall on March 22. [YONHAP]
Identification of victims underway
Efforts to identify the 14 victims are ongoing. As of now, only one victim has been identified. Identification work for the remaining victims began at the NFS on Sunday morning.
Police expect the identification process to be completed as early as Monday. Autopsies are also being conducted to determine the exact causes of death.
Authorities are also investigating an illegally constructed rest area located between the second and third floors of the building. Nine of the 14 victims were found together in this space.
The factory building, originally completed in 2010, was expanded in 2014 to add space on the second floor, a parking lot on the third floor and an outdoor parking area on the fourth floor. During this process, a roughly 330-square-meter (3,552-square-foot) rest area — including changing rooms and lounge facilities — was created between the second and third floors without proper authorization.
![A Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency official speaks to the press about a fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20 while in front of the factory building on March 22. [KIM JEONG-JAE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/e47a09dc-0b50-446c-a518-70008532da8a.jpg)
A Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency official speaks to the press about a fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20 while in front of the factory building on March 22. [KIM JEONG-JAE]
Police are also considering a compulsory investigation into the Daedeok District Office and the local fire station over potential failures in oversight of the illegal construction.
“The space between the second and third floors, where many workers died, is an unauthorized facility not listed in blueprints or building registers,” a district official said. “This space was created for stairwell windows during the extension process from the second to the fourth floor, but it is entirely illegal.”
“The factory in question is a private building and is not subject to inspection by government offices,” the official added. “Even during the factory extension process, permits are not issued directly by district office staff; instead, an architect verifies the work and conducts supervision.”
![The outside of an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, is seen on March 22 after a fire broke out at the facility on March 20. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/e1627770-1470-402a-9e0a-68c1ac967f90.jpg)
The outside of an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, is seen on March 22 after a fire broke out at the facility on March 20. [NEWS1]
Deaths concentrated in illegal rest area
In the early stages of the fire, around 20 workers either waited for rescue or fell from windows in the illegally built gym and rest area. After lunch, workers who had been resting in the area fled toward the windows as the fire spread rapidly. Some were rescued, while others were unable to escape and died.
Rescue teams initially attempted to install air cushions to save workers hanging from third-floor windows. However, due to limited space and landscaping obstacles below, they instead laid down styrofoam.
Workers who fell onto the styrofoam suffered fractures and other injuries.
Anjun Industrial’s labor union held a press conference on Sunday, during which it described the incident as a “serious man-made disaster caused by structural management failures,” adding that members had “past fears that a fire would lead to significant loss of life.”
![Investigators are seen outside an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 22 after a fire broke out at the facility on March 20. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/d2c2fed6-4b11-4152-afc4-98359c273f0b.jpg)
Investigators are seen outside an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 22 after a fire broke out at the facility on March 20. [NEWS1]
Union alleges ignored safety warnings
The union said it had repeatedly raised concerns during quarterly industrial safety and health committee meetings, calling for improvements in high-risk areas such as environmental and dust collection facilities.
Evacuation drills simulating fire scenarios had been conducted regularly, according to the union.
“The tragedy is the result of management ignoring repeated safety warnings and on-site demands,” said the union leader. “We will demand that the company acknowledge responsibility, offer a sincere apology, fully disclose the cause and provide adequate compensation and support to victims and their families.”
![Visitors pay respects at a joint memorial altar for those killed in a fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20 at Daejeon City Hall on March 22. [LEE GYU-RIM]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/22/5a074cd3-1472-460c-bda0-3b6363854524.jpg)
Visitors pay respects at a joint memorial altar for those killed in a fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20 at Daejeon City Hall on March 22. [LEE GYU-RIM]
President orders thorough investigation
On Saturday, President Lee Jae Myung visited the site to inspect and ordered a “thorough” investigation into the accident.
“The government will thoroughly identify the cause and details of the accident and prepare fundamental measures to prevent recurrence of such tragedies,” Lee wrote on X after his visit.
He noted that he had ordered authorities to keep bereaved families informed on findings through regular explanations and developments and “include their voices in investigations within an allowable scope.”
“The government will strive to prevent carelessness in terms of victim support,” he said, citing means of offering financial aid to those in need of urgent help. He stressed that protecting public lives and health is the nation’s most fundamental obligation.
During his visit, Lee delivered his condolences to the bereaved families and instructed the vice minister for disaster and safety management to manage the site.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN JIN-HO, KIM JEONG-JAE, LEE SOO-JUNG [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)