South Korea seeks second space launch center, two regions bid

South Korea is actively seeking a location for its second space launch center, a crucial step in bolstering its national space capabilities. Two regions, the Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, have submitted bids to host the facility. The Space Agency is expected to announce its final decision in October after a comprehensive evaluation of basic requirements, site conditions, and socio-economic factors.

The initiative is driven by the growing demand for satellite launches and the anticipated expansion in the operation of reusable rockets. The project, slated for development between 2028 and 2034, aims to establish launch facilities and landing sites necessary for reusable launch vehicles. This expansion is vital for South Korea to keep pace with the global "New Space" era, where private companies are increasingly leading space development.

Currently, South Korea relies solely on the Naro Space Center, established in 2009. This single facility presents limitations, particularly in supporting the burgeoning private sector's need for launching small and solid-fuel rockets. Major spacefaring nations like the United States and European countries operate multiple launch sites, highlighting the strategic advantage of having diversified infrastructure.

While expanding the existing Naro Space Center was considered, limitations related to launch directions, safety zones, and supporting facilities made it less feasible. The proposed second center will specifically include infrastructure for reusable rocket operations, such as launch pads and landing zones. This will enable more frequent launches of next-generation reusable rockets and various private launch vehicles, supporting national space development missions including satellite deployments and lunar and Martian exploration.

The selection process will involve evaluating the bidders' compliance with basic requirements, followed by a comprehensive assessment of launch operability, infrastructure development environment, and local conditions. The head of the Space Agency emphasized that the second space center will be a core national space transport infrastructure for the New Space era and pledged a fair and transparent selection process to identify the optimal location.

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The second space center will be a core national space transport infrastructure for the New Space era. We will select the optimal location through a fair and transparent process.