Launch Ceremony of Space Industry Cluster Presents 'Vision, Goals, and Future Directions'
Governor Kim Young-rok: "Building a Cutting-Edge Future Space Hub City and a Space Power"
Jeonnam Province has officially declared a vigorous leap toward becoming a ‘global spaceport’ and the ‘hub of South Korea’s space industry’ by 2045, in response to the era of the space economy.
On the 13th, according to Jeonnam Province, a launch ceremony for the space industry cluster was held, presenting the vision, goals, and future development direction of South Korea’s space industry cluster.
The event took place at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and jointly organized by Jeonnam Province, Gyeongnam Province, and Daejeon City.
Under the slogan ‘New Space and Space Economy Triangular System ? Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, Daejeon,’ the launch ceremony was attended by about 450 people including President Yoon Suk-yeol, Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su, Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo, as well as local governments, companies, and academic experts.
President Yoon Suk-yeol congratulated the launch of the ‘Space Industry Cluster Triangular System’ aimed at realizing South Korea as one of the top five space powers, stating, “Through bold government support and efficient investment for the success of the space industry, including the expedited exemption of preliminary feasibility studies for the establishment of a national space launch complex, we will make South Korea’s third miracle the ‘miracle of space.’”
The space industry cluster triangular system aims to complete the only full-cycle space industry ecosystem in the country. The three regions?Jeonnam’s space launch base, Gyeongnam’s satellite manufacturing and production hub, and Daejeon’s research and development (R&D) and talent cultivation?will cooperate and develop together in a mutually beneficial way.
Governor Kim Young-rok, announcing Jeonnam’s support measures as one pillar of the triangular system, introduced, “Goheung in Jeonnam is the only space launch base in South Korea, housing the Naro Space Center, and is a core element in completing the country’s space industry ecosystem.”
He continued, “We will steadily promote the space launch vehicle cluster and make a strong leap forward as a global spaceport. We will successfully establish a science complex equipped with exhibition, experience, and educational facilities for the space industry, similar to the Kennedy Space Center in the United States, building a cutting-edge future space hub city. At the same time, centered on the Naro Space Center, we will create a full-cycle space industry ecosystem from launch vehicle manufacturing to assembly and launch, building South Korea into a global space power.”
Starting this year, Jeonnam Province will actively promote the creation of a space launch vehicle industry cluster by fostering a private-sector-led space launch vehicle industry. This includes establishing core infrastructure for private launch sites, which was exempted from preliminary feasibility studies last year, and building a launch vehicle technology commercialization center to support the full cycle of launch vehicle companies.
By 2031, Jeonnam plans to invest 1.6 trillion won to build the space launch vehicle industry cluster. Along with establishing private launch site infrastructure, administrative efforts will focus on related infrastructure development such as the national space launch complex, the specialized materials and parts complex, and the integrated space center, all of which are currently pursuing preliminary feasibility study exemptions.
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