KARI - Korea Aerospace Research institute

On January 30, 2001, Korea announced a plan to build a satellite launch complex in the space center as an outpost of space development. Among 11 potential launching sites in Korea, were compared various conditions, such as possible launch azimuth, securing safety in flight paths, and prohibiting passage of foreign airspace. Two sites--Goheung, Jeollanam-do and Namhae in Gyeongsangnam-do-- were selected as the candidate for launching sites, and a detailed evaluation was conducted. Subsequently, after multi-faceted reviews including various conditions required for launching a space launch vehicle and ease of securing the site, Oenaro Island in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do was finally selected as the site for the space center.
Construction of the Naro Space Center was started in August 2003 and was completed in June 2009. As a result, Korea became the world's 13th country to have a space center.
The Naro Space Center is equipped with various cutting-edge facilities necessary to integrate, test, and launch space launch vehicles such as launch pad system, satellite test building, launch vehicle assembly building, solid motor building, and launch control building. Moreover, it boasts of a range of hi-tech equipment such as tracking radar, telemetry reception system, launch control system, optical system, and weather station to track and control launch vehicles and operate the Space Science Museum.

The Naro Space Center has expanded its test facilities to develop and launch the Korea Space Launch Vehicle (Nuri). The Center added 7 engine/propulsion test facilities to help develop 75-ton and 7-ton liquid rocket engines independently and constructed the second launch pad to launch the Nuri. The second launch pad is equipped with a new umbilical tower with height of 45.6 m to allow preparation for launch while the launch vehicle is staying.
Moreover, it improved the performance of various kinds of ground equipment for the launch operation of the Nuri. It upgraded the existing four telemetry receiving systems, developed one additional system to be installed in the Palau Tracking Station in the South Pacific Ocean, which opened in November 2019. It is expanding the communication and mission networks for the tracking radar, meteorological system, launch control system, coastal complex monitoring system, and additional facilities.