Think South Korea’s only about K-pop and cutting-edge tech? Think again—they’ve got their eyes on the moon. Literally.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), launched just last year, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap: a full-blown moon base by 2045.
And they’re not stopping there.“We’re talking lunar landers, rovers, and even mining water ice.”
The Korea Times reported from a hearing in Daejeon on July 17.
Some of the groundwork is already being laid. Prototype rovers are being tested—underground in abandoned coal mines, no less.
It’s a gritty rehearsal for a future on the lunar surface.
This isn’t South Korea’s first space rodeo either. In 2022, they sent Danuri, their first moon orbiter, into space via SpaceX.
It’s still orbiting, still collecting data.
What’s The Goal?
The short-term goal? Land a robot on the moon by 2032.
The long-term vision? A self-sustaining lunar economy by 2045.
Bold? Absolutely. But they’re not alone. The U.S., China, India—they’re all racing toward lunar real estate.
Oh, and Mars? KASA’s gunning for a landing there too—also by 2045.
Looks like Earth’s next big neighborhood might be off-planet.
Ready to call the moon home? South Korea just might beat you to it.
