The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has announced a new National Aerospace Industry Development Strategy designed to establish a domestic low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network and support further growth of the private-sector aerospace industry in the country.
The strategy was approved during the fifth National Space Council meeting held at Gyeongsang National University in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province.
To plan for the domestic LEO satellite communications network will focus on developing an industrial ecosystem capable of large-scale satellite production and launches by 2030, validating operations in orbit by 2032, and completing the network deployment by 2035.
Additionally, a Special Purpose Company (SPC) will be established to operate a satellite information platform and develop data-driven businesses.
The financial cost for the independent LEO network is estimated to range between 4 trillion won and 14.2 trillion won (approx. US$2.6 billion and US$9.3 billion) every five years, based on an assumed five-year lifespan for the communication satellites. This represents an annual average expenditure of approximately 800 billion won to 2.8 trillion won (approx. US$526 million and US$1.8 billion).
The government is evaluating three specific operational options: the first scenario involves 128 satellites at an altitude of 1,280 kilometres; the second targets 256 satellites at 888 kilometres; and the third expands to 512 satellites at 1,280 kilometres.
The deployment of the LEO satellite network is envisioned across three distinct phases outlined in the national roadmap. The first phase, running until 2030, focuses on establishing a new interagency task force by 2027 and building the foundation for the technology and industrial ecosystem, culminating in the launch of two initial LEO communication satellites in 2030.
The second phase, spanning from 2030 to 2032, involves the development of mass-production prototypes. The final phase, scheduled between 2032 and 2035, will focus on building out the complete satellite communications network through continuous launches to achieve independent network operations by 2035.
To support these initiatives, regional infrastructure will be integrated into a unified South Coast Aerospace Industry Belt. This belt will connect launch facilities in Goheung, satellite industries in Sacheon and Jinju, and manufacturing capabilities in Sacheon and Changwon. Financial and institutional support will be reinforced through the establishment of a NewSpace Fund and procurement system reforms.
“Now that the strategy has been approved by the National Space Council, we will move quickly to implement the related policies. We will support the aerospace industry so that, centred on the South Coast Belt, it becomes one of South Korea’s key engines of economic growth,” said Oh Tae-Seok, Administrator of KASA (translated from Korean).
