rki.news | Source: Xinhua
SEOUL, July 3: South Korea has approved a national strategy to establish its own low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network by 2035 and advance its lunar landing target to 2030, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday.
The plan was endorsed at a meeting of the National Space Committee chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, marking a major step in the country’s long-term space development agenda.
Under the strategy, South Korea plans to deploy hundreds of satellites to build an independent LEO communications system by 2035, aimed at strengthening national communications infrastructure and technological sovereignty.
Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) Administrator Oh Tae-seok said global powers are rapidly developing LEO satellite networks, describing them as essential infrastructure for national security, communications independence and the emerging 6G era.
He added that the initiative is expected to boost domestic satellite manufacturing, launch-vehicle capabilities and the wider aerospace industrial ecosystem.
The government also advanced its lunar exploration timeline, moving its domestically developed lunar landing mission from 2032 to 2030 as part of efforts to enhance competitiveness in the global space economy.