Suncheon City Partners with Hanwha Aerospace for Space Industry Collaboration

by Heo Seonsik

Published 29 Jun.2023 16:44(KST)

Updated 15 Aug.2025 13:20(KST)

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Mayor Noh Meets CEO Son Jae-il to Discuss Cooperation Plans

Accelerating the Creation of a Southern Coast Space Industry Ecosystem

On the 29th, Noh Gwan-gyu, Mayor of Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do, met with Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, to discuss cooperation plans in the space launch vehicle business sector.

Following the final confirmation on April 14th that Hanwha Aerospace's space launch vehicle assembly plant would be located at the Yulchon 1st Industrial Complex site in Suncheon, this first meeting is expected to accelerate the expansion of the space industry territory, including the construction of the launch vehicle assembly plant.

[Photo by Suncheon City]

Hanwha plans to complete the assembly plant by early 2025 after starting an investment agreement with Suncheon City this year, followed by land contracts and design. Based on the established space launch vehicle manufacturing infrastructure, they intend to proceed with the Nuriho launch without any setbacks.

Additionally, during the meeting, they discussed proposals for leading (anchor) companies in the special zone to build a space industry ecosystem, establishing a mutual cooperation system in the space industry, and creating a governance structure involving government, industry, academia, and research institutes to jointly work on job creation.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu personally expressed his gratitude to CEO Son Jae-il for Hanwha's rational and future-oriented decision to choose Suncheon, stating, "To complete a sustainable space industry ecosystem, we will cooperate and unite with the entire Namhaean Belt."

Meanwhile, on the 22nd, Suncheon City successfully held the '1st Space Experts Invitation Workshop,' attended by over 200 experts, citizens, and students, raising expectations among citizens and students for the revitalization of the space industry ecosystem.