Full-Scale SAR Satellite Mass Production System Begins
Integrated Value Chain Established in Jeju:
From Development and Testing to Launch
Hanwha Systems has established a core production base to lead the New Space era by completing the Jeju Space Center, the largest satellite manufacturing and testing infrastructure among private companies in South Korea.
With the completion of an integrated manufacturing system that enables research and development, assembly, testing, and control all in one location, the company will be able to mass-produce up to 100 SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites annually starting next year. SAR satellites are radar observation satellites that emit radio waves toward the Earth's surface and synthesize the reflected waves to create images. Their key feature is the ability to capture images of the same quality regardless of adverse weather conditions such as clouds, rain, or snow, as well as at night.
Hanwha Systems' aerial view of the Jeju Space Center, completed on the 2nd at Haweon Technocampus, Haweon-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. Provided by Hanwha Systems
On the afternoon of December 2, Hanwha Systems will hold a completion ceremony for the Jeju Space Center at Haweon Technocampus in Haweon-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. The event will be attended by CEO Son Jaeil, Jeju Governor Oh Younghun, as well as over 300 representatives from government, research institutes, the military, and partner companies, who will celebrate the completion and officially announce the launch of the nation’s first privately-led satellite manufacturing base.
The center, built on a site of approximately 30,000 square meters-equivalent to four soccer fields-with a total floor area of 11,400 square meters, features facilities and equipment for the entire satellite production process, including a satellite development and assembly hall, performance testing labs, integrated test cleanrooms, a center control room, thermal vacuum testing labs, and near-field testing labs.
South Korea’s Largest Private Satellite Manufacturing Base... Annual Mass Production System for 100 Units Secured
The Jeju Space Center is the largest private satellite manufacturing hub in South Korea, capable of producing 4 to 8 low Earth orbit satellites per month and up to 100 per year starting next year.
Based on the successful launch of a 1-meter class SAR satellite in 2023, Hanwha Systems is currently developing 0.5-meter and 0.25-meter high-resolution SAR satellites. The company is also working to secure ultra-high-resolution (UHR) SAR technology capable of capturing images with precision down to several centimeters from very low Earth orbit (VLEO) altitudes below 400 kilometers. The VLEO SAR technology is regarded as a next-generation strategic observation capability, as it lowers satellite altitude to reduce the distance to targets, enabling detection of minute ground displacements.
The center is equipped with essential infrastructure for space environment verification, such as thermal vacuum and near-field testing. This is expected to significantly expand the value of SAR satellite imagery in various fields, including military surveillance, disaster response, climate and environmental monitoring, and resource exploration. Hanwha Systems plans to further enhance mass production efficiency and price competitiveness by advancing automation and production lines in the future.
Hanwha Systems' Jeju Space Center, completed on the 2nd at Haweon Technocampus in Haweon-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. Photo by Hanwha Systems
Integrated Supply Chain from Jeju Waters to Launch... Expanding into Data Utilization Industries
Jeju’s geographical advantages further strengthen the strategic value of the center. Surrounded by the sea on all sides, the waters around Jeju are ideal for securing launch angles and designating drop zones, allowing for the direct launch of finished satellites from Jeju’s waters without the need for overland transport. This has established a “Jeju-style space industry supply chain” that covers satellite development, manufacturing, testing, launch, control, and AI-based image analysis. This is the only case in South Korea where the physical distance between manufacturing and launch has been innovatively shortened, which is expected to enhance both the time and cost competitiveness of the satellite industry.
Based on the establishment of this manufacturing infrastructure, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has announced plans to promote a “satellite information utilization cluster” starting in 2026, which will integrate satellite imagery data into the region’s agriculture, environment, marine, and transportation industries. The goal is to create a self-sustaining space industry ecosystem that connects manufacturing, operations, and data utilization.
Currently, more than 60% of the approximately 150 people working in space-related companies and institutions in Jeju are local residents. In addition, graduates of Hallim Technical High School, a specialized vocational school, are being officially hired by Hanwha Systems, demonstrating the effectiveness of nurturing and retaining local talent.
Song Seongchan, Head of Hanwha Systems’ Space Division, stated, “The Jeju Space Center is South Korea’s first privately-led satellite production base, built entirely with private capital. We will create future opportunities for the Korean New Space industry by concentrating advanced manufacturing technologies and testing capabilities here.”
Oh Younghun, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, emphasized, “A unique supply chain has been established, allowing satellites made in Jeju to be launched directly from the waters off Jeju, and Jeju will emerge as the center of South Korea’s New Space industry.”
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