'Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, Daejeon' Emerging as South Korea's Space Industry Hubs

Government to Hold National Space Committee Meeting on the Afternoon of the 21st for Resolution

Naro Space Center. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] On the afternoon of the 21st, the government held the National Space Committee chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and designated three metropolitan local governments?Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Daejeon?as space industry clusters.

The government will designate and establish 'space industry clusters' as growth hubs to actively foster a private sector-led space industry. Specifically, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Daejeon were designated as the 'Launch Vehicle Specialized Zone,' 'Satellite Specialized Zone,' and 'Research and Talent Development Specialized Zone,' respectively. The government plans to focus various supports by specialized zones to create synergy effects going forward.

Specifically, Jeonnam, the launch vehicle specialized zone, is home to the nation's only 'Naro Space Center.' It is the best region with optimal conditions for fostering the launch vehicle industry, as it allows for the expansion of private launch sites. The government will create a specialized industrial complex where related companies can cluster to lead the nascent private launch vehicle industry. It will also establish core infrastructure such as private launch sites and promote the construction of a launch vehicle technology commercialization center.

In Gyeongnam, the satellite specialized zone, there are system integration companies such as Hanwha Aerospace in the Sacheon area, which serve as the hub of the satellite industry, and many related companies are concentrated there, making it a region with excellent manufacturing innovation capabilities. The government plans to support timely satellite development and drive the growth of the satellite industry by expanding specialized industrial complexes and space environment testing facilities and constructing a satellite manufacturing innovation center.

Daejeon was designated as the research and talent development specialized zone. As a bona fide science and research city, it is densely populated with key space-related research institutions, educational institutions, and companies, possessing the highest level of research and development expertise and infrastructure in the country. The government plans to focus on future-oriented research and development and nurturing excellent researchers necessary for creating new future space industries.

An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT explained, "Along with the designation of space industry clusters, we plan to intensively support each specialized zone to actively foster and develop the space industry. Starting this month, we will conduct preliminary feasibility studies on space infrastructure projects such as private space launch sites and space environment testing facilities, which are difficult for the private sector to build." The space industry infrastructure construction project is expected to be carried out from 2024 to 2031 with a budget of about 800 billion KRW. For individual projects included in the establishment strategy, the government plans to closely consult with the respective local governments to plan projects and apply for budgets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.