A groundbreaking ceremony for the nation's first rocket launching site was held on Friday (Aug. 8), marking the start of the government's bid to become the world's 13th country with a space center.
The government-initiated construction project started on 4.95 million square meters of reclaimed land in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province.
President Roh Moo-hyun said in a taped congratulation message that the project will give South Korea the strategic technology it needs to step into the global aerospace industry. "The space center will actively contribute to the development of rockets and satellites," he said.
The ceremony was attended by some 700, including Prime Minister Goh Kun, Science and Technology Minister Park Ho-koon and South Jeolla Province Gov. Park Tae-young.
The project, scheduled to be completed by late 2005, is estimated to cost 150 billion won ($126.45 million).
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