Hanwha Aerospace Nuri rocket handover: South Korea transitions from state-led to commercial space operations
July 29, 2025
On a quiet stretch of South Korea’s southern coast, in Goheung County, Jeollanam-do Province, far from the crowded skylines of Seoul, rockets now roar with purpose. But something even bigger than fire and steel is lifting off: a new chapter in Korea’s space journey.
Just days ago, Hanwha Aerospace, a major force in Korea’s defence and aerospace sectors, signed a landmark agreement with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) to take over the country’s first fully homegrown rocket system, Nuri, also known as the KSLV-II.
It’s not just a contract. It’s a handover of the future and one that signals South Korea’s most decisive step yet into private spaceflight.
From state to private: Hanwha Aerospace Nuri rocket handover
The agreement, signed in late July, grants Hanwha Aerospace exclusive rights to manufacture and launch the Nuri rocket until 2032. But the real breakthrough lies in the details: for the first time in Korean history, complete launch vehicle lifecycle technology, from design and engineering to launch operations, is being handed over to the private sector.
“This technology transfer is a critical milestone,” says Son Jae-il, Hanwha Aerospace CEO. “Our goal is to build a robust and globally competitive commercial launch service and lead Korea into the new space era.”
While KARI retains some infrastructure like test facilities and launch pads, Hanwha now holds the technological crown and with it, the responsibility to transform Nuri from a national success into a commercial powerhouse.
The Nuri rocket marks Korea’s entry into space with proven homegrown launch and engine tech
Nuri isn’t just a spacecraft: it’s a national symbol. Developed over 14 years with contributions from more than 300 Korean companies, Nuri marked South Korea’s arrival in the exclusive club of nations that can independently launch satellites into orbit.
Its success was hard-won. The rocket uses a trio of stages powered by liquid-fuel engines, the first stage alone featuring a cluster of four 75-tonne engines. These engines were designed and tested domestically, a major leap considering South Korea had previously relied on foreign assistance even for engine testing. To overcome that, KARI built the Naro Space Centre in Goheung, including Korea’s first dedicated propulsion test facility.
Nuri’s third successful launch in May 2023 not only placed a working satellite into orbit but also proved the vehicle’s operational reliability. It was a moment of national pride and a quiet confirmation that South Korea was ready for what came next.
Enter Hanwha: Korea’s answer to SpaceX?
The recent agreement formally positions Hanwha Aerospace at the centre of Korea’s fast-growing space industry. By absorbing Nuri’s technology, Hanwha is not just acquiring a rocket, but is aiming to build a vertically integrated space ecosystem.
The company’s ambitions are clear: connect launch services, satellite manufacturing, and space-based data services using its subsidiaries like Hanwha Systems and Satrec Initiative. It’s a bold move, and one that has led many to dub Hanwha “Korea’s SpaceX in the making”.
Industry analyst Wesley Park says, “This approach mirrors the success of companies like Lockheed Martin and Airbus, which thrive by aligning with national defence priorities. By co-developing technology and sharing IP, Hanwha is creating “win-wins” for host countries and itself. For investors, this means a diversified revenue stream less exposed to geopolitical risks.”
But an industry observer cautions against rushing the comparison.
“Nuri’s launch cost is still significantly higher than competitors like SpaceX,” avers a Seoul-based aerospace expert, who did not wish to be named. “But this is Korea’s first real step into commercial launch services. The tech is there. Now it’s about reducing costs and building demand.”
The upcoming fourth Nuri launch, expected in November, will be jointly managed by Hanwha and KARI, a transition flight, in more ways than one.
KASA: Korea sets course for deep space and commercial expansion
Behind this handover is a much broader strategy. In May 2024, South Korea officially launched the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), a dedicated space agency designed to streamline governance, drive technological development, and push the nation beyond low-Earth orbit.
KASA’s creation represents a structural leap. It brings together space science, exploration, defence, and commercial oversight under a single umbrella. Based in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, and led by Yoon Youngbin, the agency is already charting an ambitious trajectory.
- 2027–2030: Expand launch capacity with Nuri upgrades and develop the next-gen KSLV-III rocket.
- 2032: Launch a Korean-built lunar lander.
- 2040s: Build a lunar base through international cooperation.
- 2045: Launch Korea’s first Mars mission and establish the basis for long-term exploration.
KASA also plans to harness the success of Danuri, Korea’s first lunar orbiter launched in 2022 via SpaceX. Still operational around the Moon, Danuri has been mapping resources and scouting landing sites for future Korean missions.
Hanwha and KASA lead Korea’s push into a cost-effective, export-driven space sector
KASA and Hanwha are aligned in more than aspiration. Both see space not just as a destination, but as an industry.
From electric propulsion development and satellite constellations to deep-space resource extraction, Korea is laying the groundwork for a space economy that goes far beyond launches.
The recent establishment of a domestically developed electric propulsion test facility in Daejeon is a key step in that direction. Unlike traditional chemical engines, electric thrusters are fuel-efficient and essential for long-duration missions, from advanced satellites to interplanetary probes.
Hanwha, for its part, is also focusing on building a commercial model that can serve regional and global clients. With Japan, India, and China all active in space, Korea is betting on competitive, cost-effective services to win contracts.
KASA’s launch signals Korea’s rise in global space race and tech innovation
For South Korea, the message is clear: it no longer wants to watch from the sidelines of the global space race. It wants to compete and lead where possible.
“As global competition intensifies in the aerospace arena, it’s clear that space is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for national growth,” says Yoon Youngbin, Administrator of KASA. “The establishment of KASA marks a pivotal moment for South Korea. We carry the hopes of a nation, and we are committed to turning those aspirations into real technological and economic value for the future.”
The handover of Nuri is more than a deal. It’s a milestone. A signal that Korea now trusts its private sector not just to build space hardware, but to shape its space destiny.
From the windswept launch pads of Goheung to the marble-floor boardrooms of Seoul, Korea’s new space age is no longer theoretical.
It’s already counting down.
