KARI - Korea Aerospace Research institute

The aerospace industry is a highly technology-intensive sector that integrates advanced disciplines, such as precision engineering, avionics, and next-generation materials. Its far-reaching influence across multiple sectors makes it a key enabler of technological innovation. Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is spearheading national advancements in this sector by focusing on continuous R&D across diverse fields, including optionally piloted personal air vehicles (OPPAVs), the K-UAM Grand Challenge project, and stratospheric drones for disaster monitoring.

KARI began its satellite program with the development of KOMPSAT-1 in 1999 and has since established world-class capabilities in satellite technology, including the successful development of the geostationary Chollian satellite series. Currently, the Institute is preparing for the launches of KOMPSAT-6 and 7, while actively developing KOMPSAT-7A and Chollian-3. Moreover, by transferring its accumulated satellite development expertise to private companies, KARI is playing a key role in expanding Korea’s satellite industry ecosystem.

Through the development of sounding rockets KSR-I (1993), KSR-II (1998), and KSR-III (2002), KARI secured the capability to design and manufacture rockets. It successfully developed the Naro-1 launch vehicle in partnership with Russia, accumulating critical technology and operational expertise. Based on this foundation, KARI independently developed NURI—a three-stage Korean launch vehicle capable of deploying a 1.5-ton-class satellite into low Earth orbit—and plans to conduct repeated launches and transfer the technology to the private sector by 2027. A next-generation launch vehicle capable of carrying a lunar lander is also under development, targeting a 2033 launch.

To support KOMPSAT-1, KARI established Korea’s first satellite ground station and later independently developed the Chollian satellite ground system. Today, KARI successfully operates a fleet of eight national satellites, including KOMPSAT-3, 5, 3A, Chollian-1, 2A, 2B, the Next-Generation Medium Satellite-1, and Micro Satellite Cluster-1. Looking ahead, KARI aims to manage and utilize national satellite information more systematically in preparation for the era of multiple satellite operations.

While traditional space powers like Europe, China, Japan, and India continue lunar exploration, the New Space era has ushered in participation from private startups pursuing innovation and opportunities. KARI launched Danuri—Korea’s first lunar orbiter with international cooperation—on August 5, 2022, and successfully inserted it into lunar orbit on December 26. Danuri is currently carrying out its mission, and thanks to excellent observation capabilities and remaining fuel, its operational life has been extended from 2023 to 2027. Korea is also developing a next-generation launch vehicle to send a lunar lander to the Moon by 2033.

Satellite navigation systems provide positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data and are widely used for car and ship navigation, emergency rescue, and disaster prediction. Korea currently relies on the U.S. GPS system, which has an inherent positioning error of about 10 meters, making it unsuitable for high-precision applications, such as aviation and autonomous driving. Moreover, there is a risk of service interruption due to signal jamming or geopolitical tensions. To address this, KARI is leading the development of Korea’s own satellite navigation system—KPS—to deliver high-precision, high-reliability data services, which are expected to become key infrastructure in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.