Korean Air & Hyundai Rotem Begin Reusable Methane Engine Program

Korean Air & Hyundai Rotem Begin Methane Engine Program for Reusable Launch Vehicles

Korean Air and Hyundai Rotem have launched a KRW 49 billion, government-backed initiative to develop a reusable 35-ton-class methane rocket engine, a technology increasingly viewed as essential for next-generation, repeat-use launch systems. 

The program, overseen by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT), will run through October 2030 and officially began with a multi-stakeholder kickoff meeting in Daejeon attended by representatives from government, defense agencies, academia and industry.

Methane engines offer higher efficiency and significantly cleaner combustion than traditional kerosene-based engines, reducing soot accumulation and enabling easier refurbishment for multiple launches. 

Global leaders including SpaceX and Blue Origin have already adopted methane propulsion for reusable architectures, underscoring the strategic importance of this development effort for Korea.

Under the program, Korean Air will lead turbopump development, a critical, high-precision subsystem that must handle extreme cryogenic temperatures and rotational speeds of tens of thousands of RPM. KRIT and other partners, including Doosan Enerbility, Perigee, and several top universities, will contribute to validation, risk management and supporting technologies across the full engine system.

This initiative is designed to strengthen Korea’s defense-space ecosystem, support future military satellite launch vehicles, and provide a technological foundation for the country’s expanding commercial New Space sector.

Image Credits: Hyundai Rotem