Clears Ministry of Interior and Safety's central investment review

An aerial rendering of the planned national space launch vehicle industrial complex in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.
An aerial rendering of the planned national space launch vehicle industrial complex in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.
The site designated for the national space launch vehicle industrial complex in Goheung. [Goheung-gun]
The site designated for the national space launch vehicle industrial complex in Goheung. [Goheung-gun]

A planned national industrial complex for space launch vehicles in Bongrae-myeon, Goheung-gun, South Jeolla Province, is set to gain momentum after clearing the Ministry of Interior and Safety's central investment review — the third such review of 2026.

The central investment review is a key administrative process through which the government evaluates the necessity, fiscal burden and economic viability of large-scale projects pursued by local governments.

According to Goheung-gun, the national space launch vehicle complex is exempt from a preliminary feasibility study. Korea Land and Housing Corporation and the South Jeolla Province Development Corporation will jointly develop the site near Naro Space Center in Bongrae-myeon, investing about 380 billion won ($285 million) to build a complex spanning 1.52 million square meters.

The complex is expected to attract launch vehicle companies such as Hanwha Aerospace and related industries, playing a central role in strengthening South Korea's space industry competitiveness and building a space industry ecosystem.

The outlook is further bolstered by the ongoing development of key space infrastructure around Naro Space Center — including a private launch pad and a launch vehicle technology commercialization center. Together, these are expected to form a critical foundation for establishing the area as a core hub of South Korea's space industry.

"With this central investment review approval, we plan to push ahead with follow-up procedures, including industrial complex plan approval, without delay, and accelerate the development of the national space launch vehicle complex," an official from the county's space and aerospace strategy office said.

Goheung-gun is pursuing a range of efforts to build a full-cycle space industry ecosystem centered on the complex, including attracting a second space center and the Korea Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency, developing a science complex, and establishing a joint industry-academia-research campus.


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