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Lee issues apology over deadly Daejeon factory fire

Published: 24 Mar. 2026, 13:39

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House in Seoul on March 24. [YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung issued an apology on Tuesday over a deadly fire at a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon that left 14 people dead and 60 others injured last week.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the victims and extend my heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and those affected,” Lee said during a Cabinet meeting. “As workplace accidents continue to occur, I feel deeply sorry as the person responsible for state affairs.”

Lee's remarks came after he visited the site on Saturday, a day after the incident, and met with the bereaved families, during which he vowed to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and prepare fundamental measures to prevent similar tragedies.

He also called on relevant ministries to plan support measures, including compensation, trauma recovery and other forms of assistance for bereaved families, and conduct comprehensive safety reviews on workplaces vulnerable to industrial incidents.

“The government should conduct thorough inspections of high-risk workplaces and ensure that safety-related systems are functioning properly,” he said.

Investigations are currently underway into the cause of the incident. Fire authorities suspect that oil residue and accumulated dust inside the factory contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Yonhap