South Korea’s state space agency says it will build a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network by 2035, aiming to deploy hundreds of satellites. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) announced the plan during a public briefing on advanced industry development in Jinju. KASA said the strategy was approved by the National Space Council earlier the same day, which is chaired by President Lee Jae Myung.
KASA’s proposal is framed as part of strengthening South Korea’s domestic satellite and launch-vehicle development and manufacturing ecosystem, as the country seeks its own version of large-scale LEO broadband systems such as SpaceX’s Starlink. The agency also links the initiative to future communications needs, including the 6G era, and notes that LEO networks can support national security and communications sovereignty.
In parallel, KASA says it plans to accelerate South Korea’s first lunar landing to 2030, two years earlier than its previously stated schedule. Separate details on the number of satellites and associated costs were also discussed, including plans to launch a range of satellites rather than a single fixed count.
