"Space Will Be Lost Without Preparation"... LG Embarks on Pioneering the Space Industry with 'Spin-on' Strategy [2026 Future Business Forum]

Choi Donghwan Unveils LG's Space Industry Vision
Commercial Technologies from Energy Solution, Electronics, and Uplus to Expand into Space
Mid- to Long-Term Plans for System Verification and Independent Satellite Launch

LG is embarking on pioneering the space economy through its 'Spin-on' strategy, which involves expanding ground-proven commercial technologies into space.

Choi Donghwan, Head of the Winning R&D Promotion Office at LG Science Park, unveiled LG's space industry vision and roadmap at the '2026 Asia Future Business Forum' held at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on May 13. He noted, "A new era of 'K-Space' is unfolding, led by private companies and characterized by a diversity of emerging opportunities, which is giving rise to new industries."

Choi explained that, "In the past, 'Spin-off' was the dominant trend, where technologies developed for space, such as satellite positioning systems (GPS), air purifiers, and water purifiers, were commercialized on Earth. However, going forward, the core will be the 'Spin-on' strategy, which applies commercial technologies whose performance and economic feasibility have already been verified on Earth to the space industry."

He emphasized that LG's accumulated technological capabilities will play a vital role even in space environments. He identified LG's strengths as including: ▲battery and energy storage systems (LG Energy Solution), ▲motors, robots, and drive systems (LG Electronics), and ▲5G/6G, satellite communications, and data transmission and reception (LG Uplus). He stated, "When a new stage opens in the space industry, LG will be well positioned to contribute and satisfy its customers."

LG is currently pursuing a three-phase roadmap for entering the space industry. At present, the company is in the initial phase, focusing on verifying whether LG's parts and components function properly in actual space environments. Concrete results from collaborations are also becoming visible. Through LG's startup support platform, SUPERSTART, the company partnered with the Unmanned Exploration Research Institute and conducted a demonstration by equipping LG Innotek's camera module on the fourth launch of the Nuri rocket.

In the mid- to long-term, LG plans to conduct system-level verifications and, ultimately, to launch its own satellite, which will allow LG to test various technologies simultaneously.

Choi remarked, "The space market is one that cannot be captured without thorough preparation," and added, "Rather than competing, we aim to build a space economic ecosystem in cooperation with startups, the government, and other enterprises."