The Gyeongnam delegation attending the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025), which opened in Sydney, Australia on the 29th, aims to share the latest trends in the space industry and expand their global network.
Led by Kim Myeong-joo, the vice governor of Gyeongnam Province, the delegation attended the opening ceremony of the IAC. They visited booths of space agencies from the United States, Europe, and Japan to learn about the latest technological trends and to seek opportunities for international cooperation.
Particularly, Vice Governor Kim met with Christian Feichtinger, the Secretary-General of the International Astronautical Federation, to express Gyeongnam’s intention to host the 2030 International Astronautical Congress. He highlighted Gyeongnam as the location of the Korean Aerospace Administration, accounting for 75% of South Korea’s aerospace industry production.
Kim emphasized that Gyeongnam has sufficient capabilities in areas such as conventions, transportation, and accommodations, making it an appropriate location for hosting the IAC. He also visited the booths of Turkey and Poland, the host countries for the 2026 and 2027 IACs, respectively, to gather insights and strategies for organizing a successful congress in 2030.
The Gyeongnam delegation also plans to strengthen global partnerships in the space sector by visiting New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Space Industry Association.
The International Astronautical Congress is the world’s largest international event in the space sector, where technological, policy, industrial, and academic achievements are exchanged. This year’s event, held under the theme “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth,” has attracted more than 10,000 participants from over 80 countries.