Goheung County Marks 2026 as the First Year Toward Becoming the "Korean Starbase"

Gong Youngmin Visits Site for Space Launch Vehicle Industry Cluster
Strong Commitment to Building a Space-Aerospace Complex City Analyzed

Gong Youngmin, Governor of Goheung County, Jeollanam-do, began his first official activity of the year on January 1 by visiting the site near Naro Space Center designated for the space launch vehicle industry cluster development project.

On this day, the county checked the progress of key projects for the space launch vehicle industry cluster and shared plans for new priority projects in 2026, reaffirming its strong commitment to establishing itself as a central city in the space industry.

On the first day of the new year, January 1, Goheung County visited the site near Naro Space Center designated for the space launch vehicle industry cluster development project to check the progress of key projects and share plans for new priority projects in 2026, reaffirming its strong commitment to establishing itself as a central city in the space industry. Photo by Goheung County

Throughout 2025, Goheung County has set the creation of the space launch vehicle industry cluster as its core strategy and has focused its administrative capacity on building the necessary infrastructure.

As a result, the county has achieved tangible outcomes such as applying for approval of the national industrial complex plan for the space launch vehicle industrial complex, passing the preliminary feasibility study for the expansion of the road (National Route 15) linked to the space industry cluster, passing the central investment review for the Launch Vehicle Technology Commercialization Center, including the Science Complex (education and experience facilities) as a national policy project, and securing 2 billion KRW in national funding for a private engine combustion test facility in 2026, thereby strengthening the foundation for the space industry.

In 2026, the county plans to focus its administrative resources on the core and new projects of the space launch vehicle industry cluster in order to play a pivotal role in enhancing national competitiveness in the space industry.

In particular, as part of expanding national space infrastructure, attracting the second space center for next-generation launch vehicle launches and attracting the Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency (provisional name), which will serve as the control tower for aerospace industry policy planning and corporate development, will be pursued as top strategic priorities.

Additionally, by expanding industrial infrastructure and launching the construction of a future-oriented space-aerospace complex city that integrates industry, research, residential, educational, and cultural functions, the county aims to achieve simultaneous growth in the space industry, population inflow, and revitalization of the local economy, thereby improving the population structure and setting a turning point for sustainable regional development.

Other new projects include establishing a private launch vehicle tracking range system, creating a space industry union campus integrating local government, industry, academia, and research, supporting regional growth projects linked to technological independence for aerospace companies, and developing ultra-small satellites, all of which are expected to accelerate the creation of a space industry ecosystem.

Governor Gong Youngmin stated, "Starting the new year’s county administration at Naro Space Center is a symbolic declaration that Goheung is the center of Korea’s space industry," and added, "In 2026, we will ensure the successful attraction of the second space center and the Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency, as well as the establishment of the foundation for the space-aerospace complex city, making Goheung a core hub of the national space strategy and a future-oriented space city."