Editor’s Note
This article outlines regional efforts to position Gyeongnam Province as a central hub for Korea’s aerospace industry, highlighting a key forum focused on strategy and innovation in the New Space era.
Jinju City, in collaboration with Gyeongnam Province and Sacheon City, hosted the ‘2025 Gyeongnam Aerospace Future Strategy Forum’ on the 12th at the Complex Innovation Center in Jinju Innovation City.
Organized by the Gyeongnam Techno Park and the K-Aerospace Policy Forum, the event was designed to diagnose the rapidly changing domestic and international aerospace industry landscape in the New Space era and to seek concrete strategies for Gyeongnam to leap forward as the central hub of South Korea’s aerospace industry.
The forum was attended by approximately 100 stakeholders from industry, academia, research institutes, and government, including Jinju Mayor Cho Kyu-il, Gyeongnam Province Vice Governor for Economy Kim Myeong-ju, and Gyeongnam Techno Park Director Kim Jeong-hwan.
The forum proceeded with an opening ceremony, followed by a keynote speech, thematic presentations, and a panel discussion. Researcher Ahn Hyeong-jun from the Science and Technology Policy Institute delivered the keynote speech, presenting strategies for ‘Building a Korean-style National Space Innovation System’.
Subsequently, presentations were given by Cho Seung-cheol, Vice President of Trimalan Co., Ltd., Lee Sang-seop, Head of the Korea Aerospace Industries Association, and Jo Hyeon-jin, a researcher at the Gyeongnam Research Institute, on core issues of the future aerospace industry and Gyeongnam’s role.
The final panel discussion, moderated by Professor Lee Dae-sung of Korea Aerospace University, sparked heated debates on topics such as the necessity of establishing an Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency and Gyeongnam’s implementation tasks. Participants agreed on the need for close cooperation among the private sector, government, and research institutes for the sustainable growth of the regional industry.
Meanwhile, Jinju City is focusing on nurturing the aerospace industry as a future growth sector. Following the successful launch of the ultra-small satellite ‘Jinju Saet-1B’ in March—a first for a local government—the city is developing its successor model, ‘Jinju Saet-2’. Through the ‘Next-Generation Advanced Satellite Global Innovation Special Zone’ designated in May, the city is systematically supporting advanced satellite development and commercialization, concentrating on revitalizing the space industry ecosystem. Additionally, it is strengthening the foundation for the future aviation industry by establishing a ‘Future Aircraft (AAV) Demonstration Center’ in connection with KAI’s Rotary Wing Flight Center.