South Korea’s LG Group is actively assessing potential entry into the space industry, according to the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), which confirmed discussions held with the conglomerate on Friday.
KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin met with senior LG executives at the group’s research and development complex in Seoul to deliberate on strategies to enhance private-sector engagement in the country’s evolving aerospace landscape.
During the session, LG provided a comprehensive overview of its internal assessment of space-related technologies and detailed its ongoing support for domestic aerospace start-ups. One of the highlights included a case study of a successful lunar rover mobility trial, conducted in collaboration with local start-up Unmanned Exploration Laboratory. The initiative reflects LG’s broader ambition of achieving a lunar landing capability by 2032.
The meeting also underscored LG’s historical contributions to the field. Notably, LG Energy Solution Ltd., the group’s battery manufacturing subsidiary, was selected by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2016 to supply lithium-ion batteries for astronaut spacesuits designated for deep space missions.
An LG representative noted that the group remains in the early phase of feasibility assessment and is evaluating environmental conditions in space alongside potential commercial models.
KASA reaffirmed its commitment to enabling private-sector innovation, highlighting national policy measures designed to stimulate commercial participation and stressing the importance of agile adaptation to shifting technological and regulatory trends.
-Yonhap
