On December 2, Hanwha Systems held a completion ceremony for the Jeju Space Center, which is destined to become the central hub for the production of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites used predominantly for Earth observation. Located in Hawondong, Seogwipo City, Jeju, this facility was constructed through a private investment of 100 billion KRW by Hanwha Systems. Spanning an area equivalent to four soccer fields (approximately 30,000 square meters), the center features a building with a total floor area of about 11,400 square meters distributed over two above-ground floors and one basement level.
Equipped with cutting-edge satellite manufacturing technology, Jeju Space Center includes satellite development and assembly areas, testing facilities for satellite functions and performance, a clean room for integrated satellite testing, and offices for employees. Starting next year, it’s anticipated to produce up to 100 satellites annually, employing facilities designed to conduct crucial tests such as thermal vacuum testing and near-field range testing for satellite performance verification in space environments.
The production line will mainly focus on SAR satellites, which are capable of producing high-resolution terrestrial maps regardless of weather conditions or lighting by emitting radar waves and capturing the reflected signals from the Earth’s surface.
Following the successful launch of a 1-meter resolution SAR satellite in 2023, Hanwha is developing higher resolution satellites, including 0.5m and 0.25m specifications, and aiming for 0.15m ultra-high-resolution SAR satellites for low Earth orbit below 400 km.
Jeju presents unique geographic and environmental advantages, being surrounded by the sea, allowing optimal launch angles and secure fall zones, making it the only region in South Korea capable of supporting both satellite manufacturing and launching. This reduces the physical distance between manufacturing, launches, control, and AI image analysis services, enabling comprehensive satellite industry value chain operations in one place.
Hanwha Systems anticipates that the Jeju Space Center, emerging as a hub for advanced space industries on the site of the former Tamna University, will contribute to the economic revitalization and job creation in the region. Song Seong-chan, head of Hanwha’s Space Division, remarked on the significance of this center being established solely with private investment, enhancing the private space sector and national space security in Korea, and pledged to foster numerous opportunities and value creation within the K-space industry.