Hwaseong City to Launch Aerospace Industry Task Force on Nov. 3... "Preparing a Key Growth Engine for the Next 100 Years"

Launch Ceremony and SPACE AI Forum at MARS 2026 at COEX
Study to Develop Comprehensive Industry Promotion Plan to Begin Next Year
Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun: "We Will Discuss Vision and Implementation Plans at MARS 2026"

Hwaseong Special City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun, is setting out to foster industries that combine artificial intelligence (AI) and aerospace technologies with its manufacturing and semiconductor base.

Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun explains plans for developing a Hwaseong-style aerospace cluster at a meeting with aerospace industry leaders held on the 16th. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

Hwaseong City announced on October 21 that it will hold the launch ceremony for its Aerospace Industry Promotion Task Force and a SPACE AI Forum at the global AI expo MARS 2026, which opens on November 3 at COEX in Seoul.

The launch ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the auditorium on the third floor of COEX. Attendees are expected to include Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun; Kim Seungjo, professor emeritus at Seoul National University; Choi Kyung-il, CEO of KT SAT; Kang Wang-gu, director at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute; and Kim Sunwoo, a member of the National Space Committee, as well as other experts from industry, academia, and research institutions. The city will present its direction for fostering the aerospace industry and award appointment certificates to members of the task force.

The SPACE AI Forum will follow, with discussions on technology trends in space AI, semiconductors, AI drones, and advanced air mobility (AAM), as well as Hwaseong City's strategy for fostering related industries.

Choi Kyung-il will speak on "Space AI and Opportunities for Hwaseong," while Kim Dong-soon, a professor at Sejong University, will present on "Outlook for the Aerospace Semiconductor Market and Hwaseong's Strategy." Kang Wang-gu will discuss a strategy for developing the AI drone ecosystem, and Kim Min-seok, former full-time vice chairman of the Korea Aerospace Industries Association, will outline changes in the future aviation industry and Hwaseong's AAM strategy.

At the panel discussion, Sejong University Professor Kim Sunwoo will moderate a discussion on "Strategies for Developing a Hwaseong-Style Aerospace Industry Cluster." Participants will explore practical ways to connect space data, satellite networks, and AI drone technologies with the region's manufacturing and semiconductor infrastructure.

After forming an aerospace industry task force under the eighth popularly elected administration, the city has assessed the industry's growth potential through expert meetings and visits to related companies and organizations. On October 12, it held a meeting with experts to review the potential for developing specialized regional industries. On October 15, it met with business leaders to hear about on-the-ground challenges and demand for policy support.

Next year, the city will commission a study to develop a comprehensive plan for fostering the aerospace industry. It plans to select specialized fields and set out detailed strategies for supporting and attracting businesses, along with phased implementation tasks.

'MARS 2026' poster. Courtesy of Hwaseong City.

Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun said, "The launch of the Aerospace Industry Promotion Task Force is a sincere first step toward making solid preparations for a key growth engine that will support Hwaseong's future for the next 100 years. Building on the strong foundations in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and future mobility that Hwaseong has developed, we will add the promise of AI and aerospace and transform the city into a forward base from which South Korea can surge into the space age."

He added, "The name Hwaseong will now become an icon of our boldest ambitions as we reach for the boundless universe and Mars. At MARS 2026 on November 3, we will proclaim an ambitious vision and work together to chart the development of Hwaseong's aerospace industry, so that talented people and innovative companies can pursue their dreams freely here and expand into global markets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.