Yoon Announces Future Space Economy Roadmap... "Mars Landing in 2045, the 100th Anniversary of Liberation"

Development of Lunar-Bound Indigenous Launch Vehicle Engine Within 5 Years, Moon Landing and Resource Mining by 2032
Yoon: "An Opportunity and Hope for Children and Youth, Not a Distant Future"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 28th, President Yoon Seok-yeol announced the 'Future Space Economy Roadmap,' aiming for a Mars landing in 2045, the 100th anniversary of Korea's liberation.

At 3 p.m. that day, President Yoon attended the 'Future Space Economy Proclamation Ceremony' held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul and unveiled the 'Future Space Economy Roadmap,' outlining policy directions through 2045 for South Korea's leap to a space economy powerhouse. The proclamation ceremony was attended by about 150 officials from domestic and international space-related organizations and companies.

Specifically, President Yoon presented a roadmap that includes developing an independent launch vehicle engine capable of flying to the moon within five years, landing on the moon in 2032 to begin resource mining, and landing on Mars in 2045, the 100th anniversary of liberation.

To realize this, he announced six major policy directions and support measures: ▲ lunar and Mars exploration ▲ advancement as a space technology powerhouse ▲ fostering the space industry ▲ nurturing space talent ▲ realizing space security ▲ leading international cooperation.

He also announced plans to establish the Space Aviation Agency, composed mainly of experts and project-centered teams. The president will personally serve as the chair of the National Space Committee to prepare for the space economy era. Additionally, the Ministry of Science and ICT has launched a task force to establish the Space Aviation Agency and has begun preparations for its opening.

Following President Yoon’s announcement, a ceremony was held to declare a 'Joint Declaration for the Realization of the Space Economy,' expressing the commitment of major domestic space development companies to open the era of South Korea’s space economy.

More than 70 leading domestic space development companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1, and KT SAT, participated in the joint declaration announcement.

President Yoon emphasized, "In the future, countries with a vision for space will lead the global economy and solve the challenges facing humanity. The dream of becoming a space powerhouse is not a distant future but an opportunity and hope for our children and youth."