2023-12-21 18:00:43
While an explosion occurred within the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the 21st, a truck is entering the main gate of the Agency for Defense Development this followingnoon./Yonhap News
An explosion of unknown origin occurred at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) on the 21st, killing one ADD researcher. It is known that the researcher who died in the line of duty was in his 60s and had participated in the development of major ballistic missiles such as ‘Hyunmoo’. President Yoon Seok-yeol issued a statement that day, saying, “I offer my deepest condolences to his bereaved family and colleagues. “We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident to prevent a recurrence,” he said, adding, “We sincerely mourn the death of the employee.”
According to ADD, the explosion occurred at the ADD experiment building in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon at around 12:54 pm on this day. It is reported that the researcher who died in the line of duty was conducting experiments related to gunpowder used in ballistic missile warheads in the laboratory at the time. It is said that the explosion and vibration at the time of the accident were strong enough to shake houses near ADD and passing vehicles. It was reported that half of one wall of the ADD experimental building building collapsed due to the impact of the explosion. An ADD official told this newspaper, “We are investigating the cause of the explosion.” Firefighting authorities deployed 24 fire trucks and other equipment and regarding 80 personnel to the scene. The explosion did not lead to a fire.
Hyunmoo-2 launch appearance. /Provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff
It is reported that the researcher who died was a gunpowder expert who participated in the development of high-yield ballistic missile warheads. He is a ‘secret weapon’ researcher and his exact identity has not been disclosed. According to this paper’s coverage, he retired a few years ago at the age of 62 and was hired once more as a contract worker. A military source said, “A very small number of researchers with excellent skills are rehired to continue research even following retirement.” He added, “The researcher who passed away this time also willingly accepted the offer of re-employment, saying, ‘I will help improve national defense power to the best of my ability.’ “I understand it has returned,” he said.
Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik attended the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on this day and said, “I pray for the soul of the deceased and offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved family.” At the same time, he said, “ADD researchers are the core of independent national defense and the leading players of the K defense industry, which has been in operation since 1970,” and added, “We will do our part as a nation, including upgrading national defense security, so that researchers can focus on research activities in a safe research environment.”
This ADD explosion occurred four years following 2019. On November 13, 2019, an explosion occurred at the ADD propellant fuel laboratory, killing one senior researcher and injuring five researchers from the same laboratory. At the time, it was reported that the accident occurred during an experiment to measure the performance of solid fuel material used as rocket propulsion fuel following turning it into a gel. A former ADD researcher said, “Behind the K defense industry, which is being exported to major countries around the world such as Poland, Australia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia, there are K researchers who have worked silently and without a name, despite taking on such dangerous experiments.”
ADD is a national facility responsible for technical investigation, research, development, and testing of military weapons, equipment, and materials. It was established in 1970 when then-President Park Chung-hee promoted independent defense policies. It was originally built in Hongneung, Seoul, but was moved to Daejeon in 1983. It deals with a variety of weapons, from rifles to tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, surface ships, submarines, and aircraft. As the national security facility is classified as ‘Level A’ and the military is in charge of responding to the accident, it is expected that it will take some time to determine the cause of this accident.
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