(LEAD) Investigators raid Daejeon auto parts maker over deadly plant fire

▲ Black smoke rises from auto parts manufacturer Anjun Industrial Co.'s plant in the central city of Daejeon on March 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Daejeon fire-raid

(LEAD) Investigators raid Daejeon auto parts maker over deadly plant fire

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 2 paras)

DAEJEON, March 23 (Yonhap) -- Police and labor authorities on Monday raided auto parts manufacturer Anjun Industrial Co. in the central city of Daejeon in connection with last week's large-scale factory fire that claimed the lives of 14 workers.

About 60 investigators from the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency and the Daejeon Regional Employment and Labor Office began to search the company's headquarters and plant and the chief executive officer's residence in the morning to seize safety-related records.

The fire broke out at the company's plant in the city's Munpyeong-dong district, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Friday afternoon, leaving 14 workers dead and 60 others injured.

The investigators plan to secure computers of relevant company officials to see whether safety measures for accident prevention, such as fire prevention and evacuation, were properly implemented. They also plan to seize documents that can determine the cause of the fire, as well as mobile phones of the concerned officials.

In addition, they are expected to investigate whether there were any unauthorized structural changes in the plant's fitness room, where nine people were found dead.

Police and labor officials said they will clearly determine the liability for safety measures and whether there were violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Meanwhile, authorities confirmed the identities of 13 of the 14 victims Monday, and 12 sets of remains are scheduled to be handed over to their families later in the day, according to the police.

"DNA results for the remains of the two remaining victims are not yet available. Once testing is complete, we will promptly return them to their families," an official said.

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