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3 killed, 2 injured in paint ingredient factory fire in Cheonan

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Summary

A fire broke out after an explosion at a paint ingredient factory in Cheonan on Friday, killing three people and injuring two others. The blaze started at Daewon Sanup’s raw materials production plant at 11:44 a.m., and officials said 17 of 21 workers at the site evacuated. Police and fire authorities plan a joint forensic inspection to determine the exact cause. Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon ordered a 15-member investigation team and expressed condolences.


Key Facts

  • The first victim was identified as a 70-something worker at the plant’s cafeteria, while the other two victims were Philippine nationals.
  • A 30-something Indonesian national suffered burns, and a firefighter was injured in the hand after being hit by a falling object.
  • Daewon manufactures fatty acids used in industries including tire and paint production.
  • Officials said the explosion likely occurred in a factory building where a significant amount of flammable materials was stored.
  • Police and fire authorities plan a joint forensic inspection to determine the exact cause of the incident.
By Yonhap
  • Published Aug 28, 2026 2:16 pm KST
  • Updated Aug 28, 2026 5:43 pm KST
Fire razes a paint ingredient factory in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Friday. Yonhap

Fire razes a paint ingredient factory in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Friday. Yonhap

A fire broke out after an explosion at a paint ingredient factory in the city of Cheonan on Friday, leaving three people dead and two others injured, officials said.

The blaze began at the raw materials production plant operated by Daewon Sanup at 11:44 a.m., with firefighters discovering the body of one of the victims near the fire and two others inside the factory, according to the South Chungcheong provincial firefighting headquarters.

The first victim was identified as a 70-something worker at the plant's cafeteria, while the two others were Philippine nationals.

The fire also left a 30-something Indonesian national with burns, while a firefighter was injured in the hand after being hit by a falling object.

Twenty-one people were working at the site when the explosion and fire occurred, with 17 of them confirmed to have evacuated.

The explosion is believed to have occurred in a factory building where a significant amount of flammable materials was stored, according to officials.

Daewon manufactures fatty acids used in various industries, including tire and paint production.

Police and fire authorities plan to conduct a joint forensic inspection with police to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon ordered officials to form a 15-member investigation team to thoroughly determine the causes of the accident and conduct a thorough investigation.

Kim expressed condolences to the workers who lost their lives and pledged to make every effort to prevent further casualties, the labor ministry said.

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