Jeju Proposes Maritime Launch for South Korea's Second Space Center

Jeju Island has entered the race to host South Korea's second space center, proposing an innovative maritime launch facility. This initiative aims to establish a new spaceport to complement the existing Naro Space Center in Goheung County, with the final decision expected in October.

Jeju's proposal involves launching rockets from a large barge at sea, approximately 10 kilometers off the coast of Seogwipo City. This maritime approach is designed to circumvent the stringent land-use requirements for land-based launch sites. The Space and Aeronautics Administration (KASA) has specified criteria such as securing a coastline that allows launches to the south and establishing a 3-kilometer safety zone, which often necessitates relocating existing civilian facilities.

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The potential site at the former Altreu Airfield in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City, would include housing, beaches, Mosilpo Port, Songaksan (a tourist site), and part of Gapa Island within a 3-kilometer radius, making launch site construction impossible.

South Korea's southernmost location and its coastal geography make Jeju an attractive candidate. The island was previously considered for the first space center in 1999 but faced strong local opposition. The current proposal highlights that a 3-kilometer radius around a potential land-based site at the former Altreu Airfield in Daejeong-eup would encompass residential areas, beaches, a harbor, and tourist attractions, making construction infeasible.

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Some residents may need to relocate, as was the case during the Naro Space Center's development, but the number of people involved would be significantly smaller than in Jeju.

Jeju officials emphasize the advantages of a maritime launch, including a wider launch angle (30 degrees compared to Goheung's 15 degrees) and safer recovery of reusable rockets. The island has prior experience with maritime launches, having successfully conducted a military solid-fuel rocket test launch at sea in 2023.

However, it remains uncertain whether KASA will accept Jeju's unconventional proposal, which deviates from the government's initial plan for a land-based facility. KASA stated that the selection committee will determine if Jeju's proposal meets the basic requirements and warrants further evaluation.

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The selection committee will decide whether the local government's proposal meets the basic requirements of the public offering and whether to proceed with further evaluation or exclude it.