Mayor Park Dongsik Accelerates the Construction of the "Aerospace Convergence City" in Sacheon

Future-Oriented Advanced City for Successful KASA Establishment
Emphasis on the Need for Enactment of a Special Act

Park Dongsik, Mayor of Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, is actively promoting the construction of an "Aerospace Convergence City" as a core strategy for the successful establishment of the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and to strengthen the nation's competitiveness in the space industry. In support of this initiative, the city is also pursuing the enactment of a special law for the construction of the Aerospace Convergence City as a legal foundation.

This project is a strategic plan to create a future-oriented city that integrates industrial, research, educational, residential, and commercial functions, aiming to elevate Sacheon as the central city of Korea's aerospace industry.

The development of this convergence city is being carried out through collaboration among Sacheon City, Jinju City, and South Gyeongsang Province, as well as consultations with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Science and ICT. The key focus is to establish an industrial ecosystem that concentrates manufacturing, research, and operations, centered on Sacheon's existing infrastructure, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and the Korea Aerospace Administration.

Park Dongsik, Mayor of Sacheon.

▲Population Plan and Expected Industrial Effects

Sacheon City aims to attract a total of 257,000 new residents by 2030, including a natural increase of 114,000, a social increase of 94,000, 9,800 through the attraction of related institutions and companies, and 48,000 through industrial job creation. Accordingly, the city plans to expand essential infrastructure such as the Sacheon-Jinju metropolitan transportation network, industrial complexes, and medical and cultural facilities.

▲Linkage with Overseas Cases

Sacheon City is benchmarking the aerospace cluster model of Toulouse, France, and is envisioning a city model that includes educational, research, and cultural facilities. The city plans to develop Sacheon as Korea's representative cluster city, similar to Toulouse, which is home to the global company Airbus.

▲Implementation System and Future Plans

Sacheon City has already launched the "Aerospace Convergence City Construction Preparation Team." In January 2024, Sacheon City and South Gyeongsang Province jointly established this team. Through consultations with the National Assembly, the government, and related organizations, the city is working to establish a legal and institutional foundation, including the enactment of a special law, the creation of a dedicated organization, the establishment of a special account, and exemption from preliminary feasibility studies. Since 2024, the city has been formulating strategies in stages, including securing national funding, planning urban infrastructure, and developing strategies to attract businesses.

▲Promotion of the Enactment of the Special Act for the Construction of the Aerospace Convergence City

Sacheon City is working to establish a legal and institutional foundation to ensure the feasibility of the city’s construction, based on the special bill for the construction of the Aerospace Convergence City, which was proposed by 16 members of the National Assembly, including Representative Park Dae-chul (Jinju-si Gap), on December 1, 2023; the "Special Act on the Construction and Development of the Aerospace Convergence City," proposed by 15 members of the National Assembly, including Representative Seo Cheon-ho (Sacheon-si, Namhae-gun, Hadong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province), on May 31, 2024; and the "Special Act for the Construction of the Aerospace Convergence City," proposed by 12 members of the National Assembly, including Representative Park Dae-chul (Jinju-si Gap, South Gyeongsang Province), on June 11, 2024.

This special act provides the legal basis for the establishment of a special account in Article 30, and includes provisions in Article 39 that allow for exemption from preliminary feasibility studies, enabling the project to proceed swiftly.

Articles 40 through 47 specify the areas of national support, including infrastructure, education, welfare, and improvement of residential conditions, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of project implementation.

Based on this institutional foundation, the city aims to secure global competitiveness by attracting aerospace experts and domestic and international aerospace-related companies.

In addition, the city plans to intensively foster an industrial cluster centered on KAI and the Korea Aerospace Administration. Ultimately, the city intends to solidify its legal foundation through the establishment of a special account and a dedicated organization related to the special act, thereby further strengthening administrative momentum.

Mayor Park Dongsik stated, "Sacheon is the only city in Korea where both the KAI headquarters and the Korea Aerospace Administration are located, providing excellent conditions to cover the entire process of manufacturing, research, and operations." He emphasized, "The creation of the Aerospace Convergence City is not merely an expansion of infrastructure, but a national task to enhance the competitiveness of Korea's aerospace industry."

He further stressed, "The construction of the Aerospace Convergence City is a mission of our time to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea's aerospace industry," adding, "Based on President Lee Jaemyung's campaign pledge, our city is doing its utmost to ensure that the creation of the Aerospace Convergence City is included as a national agenda and promoted as a national strategic project."