Hwaseong's Challenge to Space: Aerospace Industry Task Force Launches on November 3

Hwaseong Special City (Mayor Jung Myung-keun) will launch the "Aerospace Industry Task Force" to lead Hwaseong-style aerospace industry. The task force will deploy a total of 60 experts across four divisions: ▲Policy and Planning ▲Space ▲Aviation ▲AI.

The "Hwaseong Special City Aerospace Industry Task Force Launch Ceremony" will be officially held at the opening session of the Global AI Expo "MARS 2026" at the COEX 3rd Floor Auditorium on November 3 at 2 p.m.

Over the next two years, the task force will serve as the control tower for Hwaseong-style aerospace industry by establishing cultivation strategies and core tasks for Hwaseong Special City's aerospace industry and comprehensively supporting external cooperation systems as a private-public-academic-research governance body.

"Hwaseong Special City Aerospace Industry Task Force": 60 experts across four divisions

The task force will be composed of 60 elite experts including national committee members, public institutions, leading aerospace companies, and university professors to ensure linkage with national policies. A professional advisory system will be operated, led by advisory and support groups.

First, the advisory group (7 members) to present policy milestones for the task force will include △Professor Lee Byung-heon of Kwangwoon University (former acting chair of the Presidential Committee for Regional Era) △Professor Emeritus Kim Seung-jo of Seoul National University (former president of Korea Aerospace Research Institute) △Vice President Kim Min-seok of New Daily (former full-time vice president of Korea Aerospace Industries Association) △Part-time member Lee Sang-geun of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission △Professor Kim Hyun-soo of Dankook University (former chair of Korea Association of Land and Urban Planners) △Professor Kang Chung-gu of Korea University (executive chair of 6G Satellite Communications Forum) △Lee Jung-hoon, director of the Geographic Research Institute of the Korean Geographic Association.

Meanwhile, the Policy and Planning Division (7 members) will oversee the enactment of aerospace industry promotion ordinances, responding to government recruitment projects, designating specialized zones, and establishing medium- and long-term policy roadmaps. The Space Division (19 members) will comprehensively examine low-earth orbit satellites, satellite components and materials development, space data linkage, and methods to attract promising companies.

The Aviation Division (10 members) will promote urban air mobility (UAM), AI drones, future aircraft body and component manufacturing ecosystems, while the AI Division (17 members) will provide hands-on support for aerospace AI data convergence, ontology-based control, and field application of physical AI autonomous technology.

The support group includes Lee Hyang-soon, director of corporate investment, Park Moon-soo, head of Everyone's Happiness Task Force, and three public institution leaders of Hwaseong Special City to provide administrative and financial linkage support.

Hwaseong Special City's dream toward space beginning in the 8th popular election term

Since forming the "Aerospace Industry Task Force" during the 8th popular election term, the city has intensively held more than 10 expert advisory meetings, divisional meetings, expert task force meetings, and entrepreneur roundtables since the 9th term.

The city, centered on a dedicated task force, has continuously shared and persuaded industry, academic, and research experts about the specific vision and policy needs of the aerospace industry that Hwaseong should pursue. Furthermore, after building a close network by actively engaging with national committee members, field entrepreneurs, and research institution officials, the city has achieved results by appointing top experts from all sectors as members of the task force.

Mayor Jung Myung-keun of Hwaseong Special City said, "The 'Aerospace Industry Task Force' launching at 'MARS 2026' on November 3 will become a powerful governance that systematically establishes Hwaseong's aerospace ecosystem and realizes aerospace company attraction and industrial innovation."

Mayor Jung also stated, "As thoroughly prepared, Hwaseong Special City will demonstrate overwhelming urban competitiveness leading the Republic of Korea in the aerospace field following semiconductors, mobility, and AI," and added, "We will successfully complete the 'Hwaseong-style aerospace cluster' that faithfully reflects the voices of the field, drive the growth of enterprises in the city, and expand the horizons of South Korea's future industries."