Korean Air and Hyundai Rotem announced Wednesday a joint effort to develop a reusable 35-ton-class methane rocket engine by October 2030 under a government-backed 49 billion-won program. Overseen by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, the project aims to bolster Korea's space industry ecosystem. Hyundai Rotem will lead engine planning and combustor manufacturing, while Korean Air handles turbopump development.
Korean Air and Hyundai Rotem announced on December 3, 2025, a joint project to develop a reusable 35-ton-class methane rocket engine, a core technology for next-generation launch vehicles, by October 2030. The initiative is backed by a 49 billion-won ($33 million) government program overseen by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT).
Hyundai Rotem, the country's sole tank manufacturer, will lead engine planning, evaluate the engine power pack, and manufacture the combustors. The company began methane engine technology work in 1994 and achieved a successful combustion test in 2006. "Through this project, we expect to secure the technological base needed to commercialize methane rocket engines," Hyundai Rotem stated.
Korean Air, the nation's largest carrier, will spearhead the development of the engine's turbopump, often described as the heart of the propulsion system. Kim Kyung-nam, head of Korean Air's Aerospace R&D Center, said: "We are mobilizing our aerospace expertise to develop a high-performance, highly reliable turbopump optimized for methane engines." He added: "This project will strengthen Korea's space industry ecosystem and support the development of military satellite launch vehicles and future national defense needs."
The technologies developed will bolster national defense capabilities and establish a strategic foundation for Korea's rapidly growing commercial New Space sector. A kick-off meeting in Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province, attended by about 70 experts and government and industry officials, reviewed development tasks, technical-validation procedures, and risk-management plans essential to the program's success.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward advancing Korea's reusable rocket capabilities and enhancing its position in the global space industry.