South Korea Revises Top Space Plan to Prioritize Methane Reusable Rockets
- Minhoo Jeong
- Sep 3
- 2 min read
Sep 3, 2025
Minhoo Jeong
The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) has begun revising the nation’s highest-level space development strategy, the 4th Basic Plan for Space Development Promotion. At the heart of the revisions is the inclusion of a new initiative: developing a next-generation, methane-fueled reusable launch vehicle.
On September 3, KASA held a public hearing at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Daejeon to present the direction of the revised plan. Officials explained that the changes are aimed at strengthening South Korea’s competitiveness in space transportation services amid rapidly shifting global trends in the NewSpace era.
A key update is the commitment to methane-based reusable rockets. According to Park Soon-young, KASA’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Program Director, original forecasts estimated about 50 government-led satellite launches per year. However, growing demand could push that figure to nearly 100 by the mid-to-late 2030s, making reusable launch systems essential to meet future needs.
Huh Hwan-il, a professor at Chungnam National University, noted that the revised launch vehicle project is currently under review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance for feasibility. He stressed that aligning the program with overarching plans like the Basic Plan is crucial for approval—though this also raises the risk of further revisions if outcomes change.
Concerns were voiced at the hearing. One participant questioned whether methane technology could realistically enable a lunar lander launch by 2032. Park responded that, by adapting existing gas-generator cycle rocket designs, Korea could achieve this goal—drawing on India’s example of low-cost, methane-based development aimed at completing a reusable rocket by 2033.
Critics also argued that the draft revision focused too heavily on transportation, with less detail given to other sectors. Huh advised ensuring balanced updates across fields to better prepare for future planning.
The revised plan also includes the creation of a new institution, the Korea Aerospace Industry Promotion Agency, intended to accelerate industrial growth. However, Kookmin University professor Kwak Shin-woong pointed out that, unlike previous proposals for a “Space Development Promotion Agency,” the new body lacks authority over project planning and management. He cautioned that this could weaken KASA’s influence when coordinating inter-ministerial programs.
