Goheung County Focuses on Attracting Second Space Center and Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency

Mayor Gong Youngmin: "Goheung Is the Optimal Location for Strategic Infrastructure Allocation"

Goheung County in South Jeolla Province is focusing its administrative efforts on attracting the "Second Space Center" and the "Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency" (tentative name) in order to complete the construction of a "Korean-style Starbase" and solidify its position as a hub for the aerospace industry.

The primary justification for Goheung County’s push to attract the Second Space Center lies in ensuring the continuity of the national space policy and the concentration of infrastructure. Currently, Goheung is developing a "Space Launch Vehicle Industry Cluster" centered around the Naro Space Center, with an investment of 1.6 trillion won.

Aerial view of the space industry cluster. Provided by Goheung County

The county explains that if the Second Space Center is established in Goheung, it will be able to immediately utilize the already established advanced infrastructure, specialized personnel, and operational experience, thereby minimizing redundant investments and dramatically reducing the budget.

In particular, when building a high-frequency launch environment for next-generation launch vehicles and crewed missions, the organic connection with the existing center is considered the only viable option to ensure both operational efficiency and safety of the launch vehicles.

From the perspective of launch safety, Goheung possesses ideal natural conditions. With more than 250 days of favorable weather annually, stable launch operations are possible, and the risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, or tsunamis is low-a fact that was thoroughly verified during the selection of the Naro Space Center site.

In addition, the administrative experience accumulated through the creation of the nation’s only space center, the collaborative system among related agencies, and the local residents’ call for regional development serve as key assets supporting the swift establishment and stable operation of the Second Space Center.

Furthermore, Goheung County is accelerating efforts to attract key institutions essential for the growth of the private-led space industry. This is because, among the three pillars of the national space industry cluster, only Jeonnam (Goheung), which serves as the launch vehicle base, lacks a dedicated support agency compared to Daejeon and Gyeongnam, making it urgent to address the imbalance in industrial development.

It is no exaggeration to say that the launch vehicle industry is central to strengthening the competitiveness of the space industry. As a special zone for the launch vehicle industry, Goheung is the only region capable of nurturing the industry, fostering companies, and connecting technology to the market.

Goheung’s potential and efforts to attract these institutions are in line with the government’s recent emphasis on balanced regional development. President Lee Jaemyung stated at the New Year’s meeting that there are limits to a growth strategy that concentrates investment in specific regions or companies due to the concentration of capital and opportunities, and declared, “We will shift to shared growth for all, distributing opportunities and benefits.”

This approach supports balanced regional development rather than growth concentrated in specific areas with well-established living conditions, and it warrants attention.

Accordingly, Goheung County plans to attract the "Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency" to build a practical industrial ecosystem for Korea’s space triangle and promote balanced regional development.

Gong Youngmin, the Mayor of Goheung County, stated, “For Korea to become one of the world’s top five space powers, we must strategically allocate limited resources to the most efficient locations. Concentrating related facilities in Goheung, where space infrastructure is already established, is the best way to maximize the competitiveness of the national space industry. Through the attraction of the Second Space Center and the Promotion Agency, we will transform Goheung into a global space landmark and a true ‘Korean-style Starbase.’”

Meanwhile, Goheung County is working to enact a special law for the creation of an aerospace complex city and is making every effort to expand three major transportation infrastructures-including the Goheung-Gwangju Expressway and the railway line connecting Goheung and Nokdong-thereby establishing itself as a key hub for the national space strategy.