Plan to Invest 380 Billion Won Passes Government Review
Launch Site in Jeonnam, Satellite Test Center in Gyeongnam, and Workforce Training in Daejeon
The 'Space Industry Cluster Triangular System Establishment Project' to foster the space industry in Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Daejeon has passed government review and is set to be implemented in earnest. Based on a budget of approximately 380 billion KRW, space launch pads and testing facilities available for private companies will be established, and a space workforce training center will be installed.
On the 24th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 6th National R&D Project Evaluation General Committee meeting of 2024 and announced that it reviewed and approved the 'appropriateness of the project plan' for the 'Space Industry Cluster Triangular System Establishment Project (Space Aviation Agency)'.
The Space Industry Cluster Triangular System Establishment Project is a comprehensive and systematic support initiative for the three specialized zones designated through the National Space Committee in December 2022: Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Daejeon. This establishment project was selected as an exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for national R&D projects in August last year, and an advisory committee composed of private experts has been conducting appropriateness reviews of the project plan and total project cost.
The Space Aviation Agency will invest a total project cost of 380.7 billion KRW by 2030 to build space infrastructure in three regions by sector: Jeonnam (launch vehicles), Gyeongnam (satellites), and Daejeon (workforce training). The Space Aviation Agency also plans to separately promote R&D and workforce training projects related to this project.
Specifically, within the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeonnam, a dedicated launch pad for private space launch vehicles will be established, along with assembly and testing facilities necessary for launch vehicle and payload assembly, and a Launch Vehicle Technology Commercialization Center that performs performance evaluation and verification of core launch vehicle components and supports companies. In Gyeongnam, the 'Space Environment Testing Facility (Jinju)' will be built to test satellites developed by the private sector in space-like environments, and the 'Satellite Development Innovation Center (Sacheon)' will be established with facilities and equipment necessary for satellite development, satellite development workforce training, commercialization, and company support functions. In Daejeon, within the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), a Space Technology Innovation Talent Training Center will be constructed.
No Kyung-won, Deputy Director of the Space Aviation Agency, stated, “To meet the era’s demands for South Korea’s leap to a space economy powerhouse and balanced regional development, we will do our utmost to support the creation of the world’s best space industry cluster.”
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