CaliToday (): South Korea is moving forward with the ambitious construction of its own national satellite navigation infrastructure, selecting the southern island of Jeju as the central hub for the groundbreaking Korean Positioning System (KPS).
In a significant step for the nation's space program, the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and the Jeju provincial government signed an agreement on September 22 to establish the critical ground facilities that will operate and manage the system.
The KPS is a long-term, strategic project scheduled for completion by 2035. It is designed to provide South Korea with independent and sovereign capabilities in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). This program will significantly reduce the nation's reliance on foreign-owned systems like the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), while simultaneously fostering the growth of its domestic aerospace and high-tech industries.
Jeju to Host Critical Ground Infrastructure
The terrestrial segment of the KPS will be a state-of-the-art complex featuring an integrated operations center, a satellite control facility, antenna stations, and monitoring units. These facilities will be constructed in Seogwipo, within the Hawon Technology Complex.
Once operational, the Jeju hub will manage the control of geosynchronous satellites, which will help expand the KPS's coverage area southward to regions beyond Australia, providing a wide operational footprint.
Yoon Young-bin, the head of KASA, stated that the ground system will serve both regional and national interests. "Jeju becoming the center of South Korea's space-based positioning infrastructure is a crucial step to enhance both local development and national competitiveness," said Yoon. "Through the operation of the KPS, we aim to support the daily lives of our citizens while fostering new industries. We look forward to the close cooperation between our agencies to achieve these goals."
Joining an Elite Club of Space Powers
The KPS program is a core element of South Korea's strategy to expand its presence in the global space sector. By establishing its own navigation system, Seoul will join an elite group of nations and blocs—including the U.S. (GPS), the European Union (Galileo), and China (BeiDou)—that are developing independent alternatives for critical PNT services.
The system is expected to provide not only secure positioning services for military and government applications but also highly reliable and precise civilian applications across various sectors, including:
Transportation: Autonomous vehicles, aviation, and maritime shipping.
Logistics: Advanced supply chain management.
Agriculture: Precision farming and resource management.
Emerging mobile services: Location-based applications and next-generation telecommunications.
For Jeju, being selected as the home for the KPS ground system underscores the island's growing role in South Korea's space ambitions. Local officials anticipate that the infrastructure will create opportunities for related industries, attract high-tech investment to the island, and position it as a center for space technology research and operations.
With the project slated to continue until 2035, the long-term vision is for the KPS to function as a fully independent and integrated system, enhancing both South Korea's national security and its economic resilience in an increasingly tech-driven world.
