South Korean Media: Advancing Korea's Own Starlink — Up to 512 Low-Earth Orbit Satellites to Be Launched

¬ Government Unveils Strategy for Cultivating Aerospace and Space Industry

It is reported that South Korea plans to emulate Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Starlink by building its own low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network. The government stated it aims to launch up to 512 LEO satellites by 2035, establishing a domestically developed satellite communication system. This will ensure independent communication capabilities for military and public institutions in the event of disruptions caused by war or disasters that disable terrestrial communication networks. To support this initiative, the government plans to develop a comprehensive aerospace and space industry belt along South Korea’s southern coast—from Gwangyang, Suncheon, to Sacheon, Jinju, and Changwon—as a strategic hub.

On the 3rd, the Korea Aerospace Administration released the "Korea Aerospace Industry Development Strategy," under which the plan to build a domestic LEO satellite communication network stands out prominently. The government intends to launch between a minimum of 128 and a maximum of 512 satellites into low Earth orbit by 2035, creating Korea’s version of Starlink. Assuming the launch of 512 satellites, with investments spread over five-year cycles, the total cost would amount to 14.258 trillion KRW (approximately 64.4 billion CNY). The government also aims to comprehensively nurture the space industry, growing the domestic space economy to over 70 trillion KRW (around 316.5 billion CNY) by 2035 and achieving a global market share of 3%.

Reforming the Structure of South Korea’s Satellite Industry

LEO satellite communication networks are not merely internet services. For maritime areas and mountainous regions without terrestrial networks, regions where base stations are damaged during warfare, and areas suffering communication blackouts due to large-scale disasters, these networks serve as the final lifeline for communication. According to the South Korean government, to avoid complete reliance on overseas service providers, both military communications and public information networks must have indigenous systems. Hence, such space communication networks are referred to as “space territory.”

A survey conducted in 2025 on the state of the aerospace industry and aviation manufacturing revealed that the global space economy totaled 41.5 billion USD, with satellite services accounting for 10.83 billion USD—representing 26% of the total. Starlink and China’s Qianfan are currently advancing satellite constellations of 12,000 and 15,000 satellites, respectively. Satellite communication is now becoming the core market within the space industry.

LEO communication networks will also transform the structure of South Korea’s satellite industry. Previously, South Korea’s space development focused on high-performance satellites. However, LEO communication networks require hundreds of satellites to be manufactured and regularly replaced. The new strategy assumes a five-year lifespan for LEO communication satellites—meaning they must be produced repeatedly in mass production systems, much like automobiles and smartphones.

Domestic demand for satellite development and launches is expected to grow rapidly. According to satellite demand surveys, planned satellite development volumes are projected at 51 in 2027, 74 in 2028, 128 in 2029, and 181 in 2030.

The government has decided to publicly disclose public satellite requirements annually, by mission type and payload weight, to attract private investment. Initially leveraging public and defense needs to cultivate the market, the government aims to subsequently foster enterprises’ capabilities in satellite manufacturing and operations. Furthermore, satellite data usage will shift toward civilian-centered applications, aiming to establish markets for selling satellite data and AI (artificial intelligence)-based analytical services in fields such as land management, agriculture, marine monitoring, meteorology, and disaster response.

First Moon Landing Advanced by Two Years

The government has also accelerated its lunar exploration timeline. It has decided to jointly develop a small lunar lander with private enterprises and launch it in 2030. Originally, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute was scheduled to lead the development and launch a national lunar lander in 2032. Now, the plan has been advanced to first launch a privately led, small-scale lunar lander. In 2022, South Korea successfully placed the lunar orbiter Danuri into lunar orbit, but has yet to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.

The government outlined a phased lunar exploration schedule: a lunar orbit communication satellite in 2029, a privately developed small lunar lander in 2030, a space science probe in 2031, and a national lunar lander in 2032. The initial lunar lander project is estimated to cost 440 billion KRW (about 2 billion CNY), including private investment. The government hopes this opportunity will enable South Korean companies to accumulate experience in lunar missions and prepare for the era of utilizing lunar resources. According to an official from the Korea Aerospace Administration: “Currently, both the U.S. and China are focusing more on the lunar economy rather than Mars,” adding that “the industrial goal of providing South Korean enterprises with experience and opportunities related to the lunar economy holds top priority.”

Gwangyang Launch, Sacheon Manufacturing

The aforementioned initiatives will be centered around the southern coastal region. The area stretching from Gwangyang, Suncheon, to Sacheon, Jinju, and Changwon accounts for 67% of South Korea’s total aerospace and aviation sales. The government plans to transform Sacheon—the location of the Korea Aerospace Administration—into a “space and aerospace hub” integrating industry, research, and administration. It also intends to establish a civil-government cooperative research institute called “Space Factory,” a lunar and planetary exploration environmental testing infrastructure, and a specialized academic campus dedicated to aerospace.

Gwangyang in Jeollanam Province will be developed as a space launch hub, equipped with private launch facilities, a center for launching vehicle technology commercialization, and a national integrated flight performance test site. Sacheon, Jinju, and Changwon in Gyeongsangnam Province will serve as manufacturing hubs, integrating the Korea Aerospace Administration, the Space Environment Test Center, the Satellite Development Innovation Center, and aerospace manufacturing enterprises into one cohesive ecosystem. With satellites launched from Gwangyang and manufactured in Sacheon, Jinju, and Changwon, private enterprises will be enabled to industrialize satellite data and services. Korea Aerospace Administration Director Wo Tae-sik stated: “We will support the growth of the aerospace and aviation industry centered on the southern coastal belt, making it a core driver of national economic growth.”

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1870310413007880/

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