Police, the National Forensic Service, fire officials, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency participated in the Aug. 31 inspection. Authorities said floors five through nine of the processing structure were damaged, with the most severe burning found on the ninth floor.

Police have interviewed company representatives and employees and obtained statements indicating that three workers were checking a valve on the ninth floor shortly before the fire. Investigators collected materials from that area for analysis and are reviewing plant surveillance video.

Those statements do not establish the cause of the accident. Authorities are still determining whether an explosion preceded the fire or occurred after the fire began. An additional inspection focused on the ninth floor is scheduled for Sept. 2.

The investigation is also examining the plant’s safety history. Including the Aug. 28 incident, four fires have occurred at the facility since 2022. Yonhap reported earlier fires involving an oil boiler in 2022, an oil tank in 2023 and piping in 2025. Authorities are reviewing whether sufficient corrective measures followed those incidents.

Investigators are also checking whether evacuation alarms and escape facilities functioned properly and whether differences between the registered building information and the structure’s actual height indicate unauthorized construction.

Police have formed a 31-member investigative team. No final cause or determination of responsibility has been announced.

Daewon’s official product information identifies the company as a producer of fatty acids and glycerin. Its soybean fatty acids are used in synthetic resins, paints, varnishes and inks, while cardanol oil and glycerin also serve paint and varnish applications.

No company incident statement or verified update on production, customer shipments or a potential restart timetable was located as of publication.

Sources: Yonhap’s Aug. 31 investigation report and Daewon Industrial’s product information. Daewon has not issued a public incident update. Investigation details are attributed to Yonhap reporting based on information from police, fire, labor and forensic authorities. The company’s website was used to verify its coatings-market connection.

The investigation is relevant to PCI readers following paint and coating resins and polymers and safety developments at coatings raw-material facilities.