According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, a chemical seeped out while a box of glass bottles was being moved inside the institute, and roughly 300 people in the building evacuated over fears of hazardous fumes.

Fire and disaster authorities sent crews to identify the substance and worked to contain its spread and ventilate the area. The exact type and amount of the chemical, and whether there were injuries, are under investigation.

Handling chemicals at research and industrial sites can force mass evacuations when even small amounts leak in enclosed spaces. The incident is likely to prompt a fresh review of handling and storage procedures and first-response systems.

Authorities plan to verify the building's safety once the leak is controlled before deciding whether people can return. Determining the cause and drawing up preventive measures are expected to follow.

Hwagyo Sibo reports industrial-safety incidents from the standpoint of worker safety. For Chinese workers on research and manufacturing sites, knowing chemical-handling rules and emergency evacuation routes is information tied directly to life.