Lee apologizes over deadly fire at car parts plant in Daejeon

▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-plant fire

Lee apologizes over deadly fire at car parts plant in Daejeon

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday issued an apology 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 Saturday, a day after the incident, where he met with bereaved families and vowed to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and prepare fundamental measures to prevent similar tragedies.

He also called on relevant ministries to draw up support measures, including compensation, trauma recovery and 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 properly functioning," he said.

Investigations are currently under way into the cause of the incident, with fire authorities suspecting that oil residue and accumulated dust inside the factory contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

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