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Hanwha has started functioning the ‘Jeju Space Center’ on Jeju Island, a site focused on the research, development (R&D), and production of satellites. It is the biggest privately owned facility of its type in South Korea. The company intends to manufacture up to 100 satellites each year beginning next year, with the goal of making it a central base for space-related activities.

Hanwha System, a subsidiary of Hanwha specializing in information and communication technology, announced on the 2nd that it conducted a completion ceremony for the Jeju Space Center located in Hawon-dong, Seogwipo City, Jeju. The facility, covering around 30,000 square meters—equivalent to four soccer fields—features state-of-the-art infrastructure such as satellite development and assembly laboratories, functional and performance testing areas, a cleanroom for integrated testing, and control rooms for space environment testing.

Jeju’s strategic location, encircled by the sea, offers an excellent setting for determining the best launch angles for satellites and establishing secure landing areas. It is among the limited areas in South Korea that can both manufacture and launch satellites. Beginning next year, Hanwha intends to produce up to 100 satellites per year at the facility, with a focus on ‘SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites’ utilized for Earth observation and disaster tracking. SAR emits radar signals sequentially towards the ground and ocean, examining slight time variations in the returned signals to accurately determine distance, topography, and other elements. Hanwha System introduced a 1-meter resolution SAR satellite in 2023 and is currently working on 0.5-meter and 0.25-meter resolution versions.

Sung-chan Oh, head of Hanwha System’s space business division, said, “The Jeju Space Center will generate limitless opportunities and value for the Korean space industry.”