South Korea’s President Lee hails the latest Nuri rocket milestone, calling it “only the beginning” for the nation’s space ambitions. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday praised the country’s latest space achievement after its homegrown Nuri rocket completed its fourth successful flight, calling the launch “a new chapter in Korea’s space history — and only the beginning.” Lee, in a post shared shortly after liftoff, said he was “deeply moved” by the milestone and congratulated the engineers behind what is now the rocket’s most ambitious mission to date.
The three-stage Nuri rocket lifted off at 1:13 a.m. local time from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, delivering 13 satellites into orbit — the heaviest payload ever carried by the launch vehicle. South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and the newly formed Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) confirmed mission success at a 2:40 a.m. briefing. For Seoul, the launch represents more than a technical achievement; it marks a major step toward the commercialization of the country’s space program.
The mission was the first in which a private South Korean company, Hanwha Aerospace, served as the prime contractor overseeing both manufacturing and operational processes. Analysts say the move positions South Korea to accelerate its entry into the fast-growing commercial launch market, projected to reach hundreds of billions globally over the next decade. President Lee emphasized that the partnership illustrates the country’s push for technological self-reliance amid intensifying global competition in space, satellites, and defense.
Lee extended his thanks to scientists, engineers, and industry workers behind the project, along with military and emergency personnel who supported the launch. “I am truly proud of the scientists and professionals who are opening Korea’s space era through relentless innovation,” he said. He added that the Nuri program could inspire a new wave of young engineers, saying the government will “invest boldly” to ensure they have the freedom and resources to innovate. “This success lays the foundation for future generations to take on even greater challenges,” Lee noted.
