[Feature] Nuriho's Fourth Launch Awakens the Dawn... Jeollanam-do Becomes the 'Heart of the Space Industry'

Jeollanam-do Solidifies Its Position as a Strategic Hub for the Space Industry
Launch Vehicle Manufacturing and Maintenance Companies Expected to Relocate to Jeollanam-do
Fostering the Space Industry as a Long-term Growth Engine, Including Job Creation
Kim Youngrok: "Laying the Foundation for Korea to Become One of the World's Top Five Space Powers"

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, is celebrating the successful 4th launch of the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho' with officials at the Naro Space Center in Goheung in the early morning of the 27th. Provided by Jeollanam-do

With the successful completion of the first privately-led fourth launch of the Nuriho at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, in the early morning of the 27th, analysts say that Jeollanam-do has firmly established itself as a strategic hub for the space industry.

According to Jeollanam-do and other sources, this fourth launch of the Nuriho was entirely overseen by the private company Hanwha Aerospace, which managed the entire process. This marks a significant milestone as the development system for space launch vehicles, previously led by the government, transitions to a "private sector-led, government-supported" structure.

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, also celebrated the successful fourth launch of the Korean launch vehicle Nuriho, stating, "The space industry has fully entered an era of private sector industrialization. We will provide a solid foundation for Korea to become one of the world's top five space powers," expressing his high expectations.

This fourth launch of the Nuriho is part of the "advancement project," which involves repeated launches of vehicles with the same specifications and performance as the third launch. Through these repeated launches, the reliability and performance of the Nuriho are being verified with greater precision. The data and operational experience accumulated through this process are expected to serve as the foundation for the so-called "space heritage," which will underpin future commercial launch services for the Nuriho.

This launch was the Nuriho's first night launch and set a new record for the highest number of satellites carried at once, with a total of 13 satellites, including the 500kg-class next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 3 and CubeSats developed by domestic universities, research institutes, and companies.

Experience gained from launches and operations in various timeframes and new environments is expected to provide a foundation for Korea to take on more complex and challenging space missions and to compete in the global commercial launch market.

Consequently, Jeollanam-do (Goheung), where the Naro Space Center is located, is expected to seize the opportunity to restructure the space and aerospace industry with the success of this fourth Nuriho launch.

There is growing anticipation that the agglomeration effect will expand, with "launch vehicle manufacturing," "maintenance," and "companies" converging in Jeollanam-do. In particular, it is widely believed that, centered around Hanwha Aerospace, which led this launch, there is a greater likelihood of major aerospace and defense companies and their partners relocating to the region. The concentration of large-scale national projects related to the space industry in Jeollanam-do is also expected to accelerate.

Since being designated as a space industry cluster (specialized launch vehicle district) by the government in 2022, Jeollanam-do has been gradually building infrastructure worth 1.6 trillion won (approximately 1.6 trillion won) through 2031.

In addition, Jeollanam-do is accelerating the establishment of a national industrial complex for space launch vehicles, a private launch site, a launch vehicle technology commercialization center, and a comprehensive combustion test site, while also actively pursuing the attraction of a second space center, the establishment of a space and aerospace industry promotion agency, and the construction of a space and aerospace complex city.

Based on these efforts, Jeollanam-do aims to secure the space industry as a long-term growth engine for the region, including the creation of jobs.

Governor Kim stated, "As the only province in Korea with a space launch site, Jeollanam-do, along with its two million residents, warmly welcomes the successful fourth launch of the Nuriho. This launch marks a turning point in ushering in the era of News Space led by the private sector and will serve as an important milestone for Korea to rise as one of the world's top five space powers."

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