Seoul: South Korea should take the initiative in developing a homegrown low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications system for its national security, experts said Wednesday. Kang Chung-ku, an electronics professor at Korea University in Seoul, emphasized the importance of such systems at a satellite communications technology conference hosted by the Central Radio Management Service (KCMS) under the Ministry of Science and ICT. According to Yonhap News Agency, Kang highlighted the necessity for South Korea to create its own unique network system to avoid dependency on foreign services like SpaceX's Starlink and its British counterpart OneWeb, both of which are set to provide global service coverage soon. He noted that a homegrown LEO satellite system could significantly advance the defense and communications sectors in South Korea. To compete against these first movers, he stressed the need for international cooperation and the creation of a global alliance to develop and operate a constellation of satelli tes. Earlier this year, South Korea announced its plan to launch two indigenous LEO satellites by 2030, using sixth-generation communications network technology. Kim Jeong-sam, director general of the KCMS, also remarked on the strategic importance of this initiative from a national security perspective. He called for measures to enhance South Korea's competitiveness in the global LEO satellite market. The satellite radio and communications technology conference, where these discussions took place, is held in Seoul on November 20, 2024.