Worker dies five days after chemical explosion at manufacturing plant in Gimpo

A worker died five days after an explosion during a chemical mixing operation at a manufacturing plant in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, police and labor authorities said on Wednesday.

A fire broke out at a factory in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, on Jan. 8, 2026, severely injuring a worker who died five days later on Jan. 13, 2026, according to police. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A worker died five days after an explosion during a chemical mixing operation at a manufacturing plant in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, police and labor authorities said on Wednesday.

The man, in his 30s, sustained second-degree burns over his entire body in the accident, which occurred at around 1:37 a.m. on Jan. 8 at a film manufacturing factory in Tongjin-eup, Gimpo.

He died at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at a hospital, according to the Gimpo Police Precinct and labor officials.

At the time of the accident, the worker was mixing hazardous materials and other organic substances. Vapors generated during the process reacted with static electricity, causing an explosion followed by a fire, according to investigators.

An automatic fire suppression system at the factory activated immediately, preventing the flames from spreading further. The worker, who was working at the site, suffered extensive burns.

Police have summoned on-site managers to investigate whether the company complied with required safety management rules. The Bucheon branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s regional office ordered an immediate suspension of operations at the facility.

Police and labor officials are examining whether the company violated the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as the workplace employs five or more regular workers.

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 KO SEUNG-PYO [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]