[2026 Future Business Forum] Sean Wilson: "In the Space Economy Era... Korean Companies Must Leverage Strengths in Semiconductors and AI"

Keynote Speech by Mirai Group (TMG) CEO

"U.S. Leading the Global Space Market"

"Local Investment and M&A Strategies in the U.S. Are Crucial"

Sean Wilson, founder and CEO of Mirai Group (TMG), emphasized, "Korean companies must leverage their existing industrial strengths in semiconductors, AI, telecommunications, and robotics by combining them with the space industry to target the U.S. market."

In his keynote speech at the 2026 Asia Future Business Forum held at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on May 13, Wilson stated, "The biggest opportunity in the space economy is, without a doubt, the U.S. market," adding, "The United States commands an overwhelming share of the global market in most sectors of the space industry, including launch, satellite communications, and remote sensing."

He explained, "The U.S. launch market accounts for about 55 to 60 percent of the global market, and U.S. government purchases of remote sensing data alone make up roughly half of the global commercial market. The space communications sector also constitutes around 40 percent of the global market."

Wilson analyzed that the massive defense and space budgets of the U.S. government are driving market growth. He said, "The U.S. Department of Defense's space-related budget alone is about 40 billion dollars (approximately 60 trillion won), and NASA's budget is around 24.4 billion dollars (about 36 trillion won)."

Wilson assessed that Korean companies hold a competitive advantage in the space economy era. He stated, "Korea has already secured global competitiveness in areas that can be linked to the space industry, such as semiconductors, mobility, ICT, AI, biotechnology, and robotics. The experience of expanding businesses with a global market focus from the beginning is also a strength."

He particularly highlighted the necessity of M&A strategies for entering the U.S. market. He noted, "Strategies such as acquiring U.S. companies or making local investments to enter the market will become increasingly important. If there is a needed technology, companies can acquire it directly, or, conversely, sell their company to a large corporation and then start a new business."

TMG provides strategic consulting and practical support to clients seeking international partnerships in aerospace and advanced technology sectors. Prior to founding TMG, Wilson served as Director of International Space Policy at the U.S. National Space Council.