Research on Lunar Resource Acquisition Begins at Taebaek Abandoned Mine Tunnel

Equipment Demonstration Event Held by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
Closed mine tunnels transformed into a simulated lunar polar region
Showcasing lunar exploration technologies, including mobility vehicles and resource extraction devices

Efforts to secure future energy sources for Korea are gaining momentum at the closed mines in Taebaek. The unique underground spaces of the closed mines have been recreated to resemble the lunar polar regions for demonstration purposes.

Dr. Kim Kyung-ja of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources Space Resources Development Center is explaining the rover capable of lunar surface exploration. Photo by Baek Jong-min, Tech Specialist

On the 28th, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (Director Lee Pyeong-gu), along with key figures including National Assembly member Lee Cheol-gyu and Taebaek Mayor Lee Sang-ho, conducted a ‘Demonstration of Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization in Closed Mines’ at a site where the underground space of a closed mine was recreated to simulate the lunar polar region.

The demonstration involved joint participation from leading domestic research institutions, universities, and companies, including Dr. Kim Kyung-ja from the Space Resource Development Center of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and KAIST.

The showcased equipment included a lunar surface multipurpose mobility vehicle, a drill with autonomous driving capabilities, a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) sensor, and a lunar regolith resource extractor. These devices demonstrated the technological capabilities necessary for actual lunar exploration, such as soil collection and elemental analysis, based on smooth power transmission and driving performance even on low-gravity environments and uneven, non-flat surfaces. Professor Bang Hyo-chung of KAIST, Vice Chairman of the National Space Committee, also introduced a CubeSat, a miniature satellite designed to observe lunar orbit directly.

The primary lunar surface resource targeted by the research team is 'Helium-3.' Helium-3 is expected to be a future energy resource usable as fuel for nuclear fusion power generation without concerns about carbon emissions or radioactive contamination.

Multipurpose lunar surface mobility and other swarm rovers are being unveiled in an abandoned mine tunnel. Photo by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources

Officials voiced the need for strengthened cooperation among the government, private sector, and research institutions, as well as additional government-level research support. Kim Seong-won, Director of the National Land and Space Geology Research Headquarters at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, emphasized, “This demonstration of lunar resource development by repurposing closed mines is the first step toward gaining a preemptive advantage in the space resource development race, and government support is necessary alongside other space projects such as deep space observation.”

Key attendees of the on-site resource demonstration event at the abandoned mine are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources

Based on this pilot application, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources plans to utilize the closed mine tunnels as a forward base for lunar exploration while establishing the International Space Resource Demonstration Convergence Cooperation Center (ISRU Nexus Hub) to present a future model for space resource utilization.

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