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Consistent R&D for Technological Advancement 내용닫기

Consistent R&D for Technological Advancement

In 2021, Korea’s trade volume reached USD 3.2 billion (including USD 2.2 billion of imports and USD 1.1 billion of exports), falling by 14% from the previous years due to COVID-19.

"Trade Volume of the Aerospace Industry by Country"

※ Source: UN Comtrade

However, the comparison of the core technology level among major countries in 2020 showed that, compared with the US (100%) which has the highest technology level, Korea’s technology level averaged 64.2%, an increase of 3.3%p from 2018.

Space launch vehicle development and operation : 60%
Space exploration and application technology : 56%
Manned/unmanned autonomous vehicle integrated control system technology : 70%
Space environment observation monitoring analysis technology : 55%
Manned/unmanned integrated autonomous vehicle technology : 80%

"Comparison of Technology Levels by Sector in Major
								Countries"

※ Source: KISTEP 2020 Technology Level Evaluation

Although the trade volume is smaller than that of other major countries, Korea focuses on investing in and securing technology. Consequently, the technology gap (about 62% of that of the US) is relatively low, compared to the trade volume gap (about 2.5% of that of the US), Implying Korea’s strength in technology.

Status of Private Investment in Aerospace

The investment budget of private companies in the aerospace sector continued increasing until 2020, before the pandemic hit Korea and cut investment by 17% year-on-year in 2021. Despite the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, however, the private sector is focusing on and investing in R&D: the proportion of investment in R&D rose from 40% in 2019 to 61% in 2021.

As of 2021, private companies in the aviation industry have focused on technology development and facility/equipment construction by investing 56% of their total investment budget in R&D and 27% in facilities/equipment. As of 2021, private companies in the space industry invested 73% of their total investment budget in R&D to secure proprietary technologies.

"Investment by Private Companies in the Aerospace
								Industry"

(Unit: KRW million)

한국 자동차산업 위상 통계로 구분, 연도별 정보제공
Category		2019	2020	2021
Aviation	R&D	184,875	270,865	276,868
	Facility/Equipment	179,876	178,809	135,078
	Land/Building	137,750	142,045	57,855
	Others	28,698	27,317	21,746
Subtotal		531,017	619,036	491,547
Space	R&D	151,576	134,784	150,522
	Facility/Equipment	27,422	80,219	54,634
	Education Training	1,046	2,486	670
	Others	-	-	-
Subtotal		180,065	217,489	205,826
Total		711,082	836,525	697,373

※ Source: Survey on the Aerospace Industry, Korea Aerospace Industries Association (2022)

R&D Continuing Despite the Aftermath of COVID-19 내용열기

R&D Continuing Despite the Aftermath of COVID-19

The aviation industry continued growth from 2017 to 2019, but it was seriously affected by COVID-19 to see sales plunge (by 13%) in 2020 and the decline has continued in 2021. The space industry has seen a slight stagnation in sales since 2017, but similarly with the aviation industry, sales have plummeted since 2020 due to the pandemic. However, the industry is showing signs of recovery with the decline halved in 2021 compared to 2020.

"Private Sector Sales (2017-2021)"

(Unit: KRW million)

민간분야 매출액 현황 (’17~’21) 정보제공
Category		2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Aviation	Sales	5,107,742	5,785,406	6,187,382	5,379,777	5,128,895
Aviation	Growth rate	-	13%	7%	-13%	-5%
Space	Sales	3,393,100	3,290,795	3,260,974	2,781,758	2,569,713
Space	Growth rate	-	-3%	-1%	-15%	-8%

※ Source: Industrial Statistical System, Space Industry Survey (2022)

Aviation exports continued growing from 2017 to 2019, but started declining from 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Due to the high proportion of imports compared to exports, the trade balance is showing a deficit. The space industry has seen a slight decline in exports since 2017, but the decline was accelerated by the pandemic since 2020. Still, the industry continued to record trade surplus.

"Imports and Exports (2017-2021)"

(Unit: KRW million)

수출입 현황 (’17~’21) 정보제공
Category		2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Aviation	Exports	3,590,220	3,545,060	3,794,763	3,203,851	2,175,031
	Imports	4,168,268	5,418,071	7,030,270	5,268,086	5,079,469
	Trade balance	-578,048	-1,873,011	-3,235,507	-2,064,235	-2,904,438
Space	Exports	1,818,397	1,778,020	1,274,357	688,025	607,452
	Imports	647,174	589,323	383,175	264,587	229,959
	Trade balance	1,171,223	1,188,697	891,182	423,438	377,493

※ Source: Industrial Statistical System, Space Industry Survey (2022), Exchange rate of May 25, 2023 applied (USD 1 = KRW 1,319)

The number of aviation personnel was 17,638 in 2021, and the industry maintained the level since 2017 with minor changes. Employment in the space industry reached 7,317 in 2021, demonstrating a temporary decline due to the pandemic in 2020 before increasing by 16% year-on-year driven by rising interest in the space sector.

"Private Sector Employment (2017-2021)"

(Unit: Persons)

(Unit: persons)

민간분야 고용 현황 (’17~’21) 정보제공
Category		2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Aviation	No. of employees	16,892	17,504	17,029	16,837	17,638
Aviation	Growth rate	-	4%	-3%	-1%	5%
Space	No. of employees	6,708	6,610	6,643	6,305	7,317
Space	Growth rate	-	-1%	0%	-5%	16%

※ Source: Industrial Statistical System, Space Industry Survey (2022)

Major achievements in R&D

Laid the foundation for Korea's own space exploration with the successful development and launch of Danuri (Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter) (in Dec. 2022)
- The successful launch serves as a stepping stone for future lunar landers and space exploration and for scientific missions as Danuri is collecting scientific data in six payloads.
Successful development and launch of three-stage launch vehicle Nuri provides Korea with space transportation capability
- Korea laid the foundation for revitalizing the space industry and building the infrastructure for producing space launch vehicles, including engine technology and systems, and test facilities. Transfer of Nuri's technologies to businesses also contributed to building the ecosystem of the space industry.
Successful development and launch of the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 1 (in Mar. 2021)
- Korea developed its own 500 kg-class satellite technologies and domestically developed key components of the optical payload. Korea can now provide satellite data to meet various needs including land and resource management and disaster response. Transfer of satellite development technologies to businesses and improved capability of space companies will boost the satellite industry.
Entry into the UAM Market
- With the UAM market expected to enjoy an exponential growth, Hyundai Motor Group's entry into the market raised expectations of active participation of related Korean businesses in the aviation industry and the resulting ripple effect.

Global Companies Open R&D Centers and Production Base in Korea 내용열기

Global Companies Open R&D Centers and Production Base in Korea

US-based Boeing established the world’s largest Boeing Korea Engineering and Technology Research Center (BKETC) in Seoul in 2019 and is creating synergies by collaborating with Korean communication, semiconductor and manufacturing sectors. The BKETC has recruited and hired experts in autonomous flight, artificial intelligence, avionics, mobility platforms, smart cabins, and smart factories to study next-generation aerospace technologies.

"Next-Generation Cutting-edge Aerospace Technologies: Research Areas"
Towards a Global Aerospace Powerhouse 내용열기
Towards a Global Aerospace Powerhouse

The government has designated aerospace as one of the 12 national strategic technologies, emphasizing its strategic importance at the national level and actively supporting it for future growth and independent development of technologies. The aerospace and marine category encompasses large multi-stage combustion cycle engines, space observation and sensing, lunar landing and surface exploration, and high-tech aviation gas turbine engines and components. To promote urban air traffic (UAM) categorized as high-tech mobility, the government has put together a draft of the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Fostering National Strategic Technologies, which will soon be enacted.

Moreover, the Korean government announced the Future Space Economy Roadmap (in Nov. 2022), presenting policy directions to grow as an aerospace powerhouse. It also announced the Fourth Master Plan for Space Development Promotion (in Dec. 2022) to set the country's mid- and long-term objectives and directions for space development. In addition, the government based on the Korean Urban Air Traffic (K-UAM) Roadmap is promoting policies aimed at commercializing UAM, the next-generation mobility urban air traffic, by 2025.

To that end, the government is supporting private-led projects, establishing a new framework system different from the existing one overseeing safety and transportation, and encouraging businesses to enter and grow in the high-tech area by applying global standards. Moreover, the government in consideration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is promoting R&D policies to stay competitive in future key areas. By focusing on developing Korea's own aviation engine technologies, three major avionics technologies (sensors, flight control, and navigation) and ICT convergence technologies, the government aims to strengthen capabilities to participate in international joint development projects and targeting ICT convergent niche markets such as UAV and smart cabins.

"Fourth Master Plan for Space Development Promotion: Vision and Strategy"
비전

2045년 우주경제 글로벌 강국 실현

성과목표

우주탐사 영역 확장

핵심 우주탐사 임무 완수

(‘22 現수준) 달 궤도선 임무

(‘32) 달 착륙 및 표면임무

(‘45) 화성 착륙

우주개발 투자 확대

정부 우주개발 투자

(‘21, 現수준) 0.73조원

(‘27) 1.5조원(2배수준)

민간 우주산업 창출

우주 산업 세계시장 비중 (매출액 기준)

(’21, 現수준) 약 1%

(‘45) 10%(주력산업 수준)

장기 전략목표로서의 5대임무, 이행수단으로서의 2대 실천전략 설정

5대 장기 우주개발 미션(Mission) 설정

우주개발 투자 확대
1. 01. 우주탐사 확대 : 독자적 우주 탐사계획 추진
2. 02. 우주수송 완성 : 우주수송 서비스 능력·인프라 완성
3. 03. 우주산업 창출 :우주 新산업을 주력산업化
4. 04. 우주안보 확립 : 우주·지상 안보 지원체계 확립
5. 05. 우주과학 확장 : 국내역량 주도의 선도형 연구 추진
추진전략

전략 1 – 우주 경제 기반 구축
1. 산업 생태계
2. 국가 거버넌스
3. 전문인력 확보
4. 글로벌 리더십
5. 우주안보 체계
전략 2 – 첨단 우주기술 확보
1. 발사체·인프라
2. 위성·서비스
3. 우주탐사·과학
※ Source: Fourth Master Plan for Space Development Promotion for implementation of the Future Space Economy Roadmap (2022)

Three-Axis System of Space Industry Clusters 내용열기

Three-Axis System of Space Industry Clusters

The government designated Jeonnam (launch vehicle), Gyeongnam (satellite), and Daejeon (research and talent development) as space industry clusters to foster the space industry led by the private sector. The launch vehicle and satellite clusters were designated as these areas represent the backbone of the space industry, and the research and talent development cluster will support the creation of future new industries.

"Space Industry Cluster: Basic Direction"

※ Source: Aerospace Industry Cluster Designation (Draft) (2022)

The Korean aviation industry is centered in the Gyeongnam region, where major companies and test and evaluation facilities have been established. Sacheon has a specialized aviation industry complex, where major aviation companies such as KAI are based, and Yeongcheon has an avionics MRO cluster.

"Key Players and Infrastructure in the Aviation Industry by
							Region"

수도권 227개(50.6%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(수도권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
우주 기기 제작	기업체	(주)엘아이지넥스원
	기업체	에이피 위성(주)
	연구 기관	국립환경과학원
	대학	서울대학교 기계항공공학부 우주항공공학전공
위성 활용	기업체	(주)휴맥스
		(주)케이티스카이라이프
		케이티샛
	대학	아주대학교 우주전자정보공학과
		경희대학교 국제캠퍼스 우주과학과
		연세대학교 천문우주학과

강원권 6개(1.3%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(강원권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
위성활용	기업체	지트
우주활용	대학	상지대학교 건설시스템공학과
우주활용	대학	강릉원주대학교 대기환경과학과

충청권 114개(25.4%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(충청권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
우주기기 제작	기업체	(주)쎄트렉아이
	기업체	한국항공우주연구원
	연구기관	한국기초과학 지원연구소
	대학	한국과학기술원 항공우주공학과
우주활용	기업체	넴코어스
	기업체	(주)케이앤에스 아이앤씨
	연구기관	기상청 국가기상위성센터
	연구기관	한국천문연구원
	대학	한국과학기술원 항공우주공학과
	대학	충남대학교 천문우주과학과

영남권 85개(18.9%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(영남권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
우주기기 제작	기업체	한화에어로스페이스
	기업체	한국한공우주산업(주)
	연구기관	한국해양과학기술원
	위성활용	기업체	(주)디젠
대학	위성활용	울산과학기술원 도시환경공학부 환경과학공학전공

호남권 14개(3.1%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(호남권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
우주기기제작	기업체	데크항공(주)
우주기기제작	캠틱종합기술원
우주활용	연구기관	국립농업과학원
우주활용	대학	전북대학교 항공우주공학과

제주권 2개(0.6%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(제주권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
위성활용	기업체	아라세이프
우주활용	연구기관	국립전파연구원 우주전파센터

※ Source: Korea Aerospace Industry Association

Companies in the space industry are mainly concentrated in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and Chungcheong Province (375, 73.6%). In the Seoul Metropolitan Area, various space-related companies (264) are operating, including satellite and launch vehicle manufacturers, while major satellite-related companies such as Satrec Initiative are based in Chungcheong Province.

"Key Players and Infrastructure in the Aviation Industry by
							Region"

수도권 227개(50.6%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(수도권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
우주 기기 제작	기업체	(주)엘아이지넥스원
	기업체	에이피 위성(주)
	연구 기관	국립환경과학원
	대학	서울대학교 기계항공공학부 우주항공공학전공
위성 활용	기업체	(주)휴맥스
		(주)케이티스카이라이프
		케이티샛
	대학	아주대학교 우주전자정보공학과
		경희대학교 국제캠퍼스 우주과학과
		연세대학교 천문우주학과

강원권 6개(1.3%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(강원권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
위성활용	기업체	지트
우주활용	대학	상지대학교 건설시스템공학과
우주활용	대학	강릉원주대학교 대기환경과학과

충청권 114개(25.4%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(충청권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
우주기기 제작	기업체	(주)쎄트렉아이
	기업체	한국항공우주연구원
	연구기관	한국기초과학 지원연구소
	대학	한국과학기술원 항공우주공학과
우주활용	기업체	넴코어스
	기업체	(주)케이앤에스 아이앤씨
	연구기관	기상청 국가기상위성센터
	연구기관	한국천문연구원
	대학	한국과학기술원 항공우주공학과
	대학	충남대학교 천문우주과학과

영남권 85개(18.9%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(영남권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
우주기기 제작	기업체	한화에어로스페이스
	기업체	한국한공우주산업(주)
	연구기관	한국해양과학기술원
	위성활용	기업체	(주)디젠
대학	위성활용	울산과학기술원 도시환경공학부 환경과학공학전공

호남권 14개(3.1%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(호남권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
우주기기제작	기업체	데크항공(주)
우주기기제작	캠틱종합기술원
우주활용	연구기관	국립농업과학원
우주활용	대학	전북대학교 항공우주공학과

제주권 2개(0.6%)

우주산업 지역별 주요 기업 및 인프라(제주권) 표로 분야, 구분, 주요 기업 정보제공
분야	구분	주요 기업
위성활용	기업체	아라세이프
우주활용	연구기관	국립전파연구원 우주전파센터

※ Source: Survey on the Aerospace Industry (2022)

The Jeju Provincial Government is striving to transform Jeju into an outpost of the New Space Age by opening the Korea Satellite Operations Center, building an offshore launch site for space launch vehicles, and signing business agreements with private space companies. Contec, IOPS, SIIS, and Perigee Aerospace have built their bases in Jeju by signing agreements with the Jeju Provincial Government.

"Key Players and Infrastructure in the Aviation Industry by
							Region"

※ What's Happening in Jeju? Space Startups Rush to Jeju looking for a Radio-Free Zone, Money Today article on May 18, 2023

Invest KOREA

Aerospace PM

LIM HYUNJUNG Key Industries Promotion Team

T.+82-2-3460-7888 E.hjlim1023@kotra.or.kr

Recommendation on Locations

BEST1

[Gyeongsangnam-do Sacheon City]

Sacheon 1st General Industrial Complex

Designated area(m2) : 2,545,259
Management : Gyeongsangnam-do Sacheon City, Korea Industrial Complex Corporation
Nearby Railway : Jinju Station (14km)
Nearby Airport : Sacheon Airport (5km)

BEST2

[Gyeongsangbuk-do Yeongcheon City]

Gokyong General Industrial Complex

Designated area(m2) : 1,565,077
Management : Gyeongsangbuk-do Yeongcheon City
Nearby Railway : Yeongcheon Station (10km)
Nearby Airport : Daegu International Airport (52km)

BEST3

[Busan Metropolitan City Gijang County]

Jeonggwan Agricultural Industrial Complex

Designated area(m2) : 258,083
Management : Busan Metropolitan City Gijang County
Nearby Railway : Busan Station (31km)
Nearby Airport : Gimhae International Airport (35km)

BEST4

[Gyeongsangnam-do Miryang City]

Sapo General Industrial Complex

Designated area(m2) : 745,994
Management : Gyeongsangnam-do Miryang City
Nearby Railway : Miryang Station (4km)
Nearby Airport : Gimhae International Airport (51km)

BEST5

[Gyeongsangnam-do Goseong County]

Madong Agricultural Industrial Complex

Designated area(m2) : 287,799
Management : Gyeongsangnam-do Goseong County
Nearby Railway : Masan Station (47km)
Nearby Airport : Sacheon Airport (38km)

BEST6

[Gyeongsangnam-do Sacheon City]

Duryang Specialized Agricultural Industrial Complex

Designated area(m2) : 118,161
Management : Gyeongsangnam-do Sacheon City
Nearby Railway : Jinju Station (9km)
Nearby Airport : Sacheon Airport (5km)

Invest KOREA

KOTRA site

Aerospace

항공우주 산업 주요 국가의 분야별 기술 수준 비교

비전

성과목표

우주탐사 영역 확장

우주개발 투자 확대

민간 우주산업 창출

5대 장기 우주개발 미션(Mission) 설정

우주개발 투자 확대

추진전략

전략 1 – 우주 경제 기반 구축

전략 2 – 첨단 우주기술 확보