The Real-Life Stage of Korean Rockets at the End of Oenarodo

Why the Space Science Museum Opened on Oenarodo on June 12, 2009

The Naro Space Center Space Science Museum is located at the entrance to the Naro Space Center on Oenarodo, Bongnae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, and officially opened on June 12, 2009. The Naro Space Center is Korea's space-launch infrastructure, equipped with a launch pad, satellite and launch-vehicle assembly facilities, a launch control building, and tracking radar. The museum is a public exhibition space created to help visitors understand the center's interior facilities, where general access is restricted for security reasons.

The names “Naro” and “Naroho” originate from Naro Island, one of the islands in this area. Goheung-gun is a coastal region with a 745-kilometer ria coastline and 230 islands, and the space center and Space Science Museum at the end of Oenarodo are especially significant because they show a national space-development facility situated within an island landscape.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:30: Calculating the Fees for July 2026

The museum is closed every Monday and is open from 10:00 to 17:30. However, holiday and temporary operating schedules may change, so it is safest to check the official notice for the relevant date before setting out. The main contact number is 061-830-8700, and the collect-call number is 1422-26.

As of July 1, 2026, individual admission fees are 4,000 won for adults and 2,000 won for elementary, middle, and high school students. Groups of 20 or more pay 3,000 won per adult and 1,500 won per student. Preschool children aged seven or younger, people with disabilities, national merit honorees, basic livelihood security recipients, and people aged 65 or older are eligible for free admission upon presenting the relevant documentation.

• Address: 490 Haban-ro, Bongnae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do
• Official website: https://www.kari.re.kr/kor/153/spcCntr
• Admission payment: Credit and debit cards accepted
• Parking fee: Free

See the Four Rockets in Rocket Plaza First, from KSR-I to a Full-Size Naroho

The outdoor exhibition area consists of Rocket Plaza, Parabolic Communication, and Solar Garden. Rocket Plaza displays four full-size models: the KSR-I single-stage solid-propellant rocket, the KSR-II two-stage solid-propellant rocket, the KSR-III liquid-propellant scientific rocket, and the KSLV-I Naroho. Visiting this area before the indoor exhibitions makes it easier to understand how Korea's launch vehicles relate to the models and testing equipment inside the museum.

The Parabolic Communication exhibit is designed to demonstrate the principle of sound transmission between two opposing parabolic surfaces. Solar cells, a sundial, a GPS continuous observation station, and the Rocket Fountain in the central plaza are also located outdoors. Because the outdoor area is affected by rain and strong sunlight, it is better to visit just after opening in midsummer or in the late afternoon after seeing the indoor exhibitions.

How to Connect Vacuum, Orbits, Satellites, and Lunar Exploration in the First-Floor Permanent Exhibition

The permanent exhibition progresses through Basic Principles, Rockets, Artificial Satellites, Space Exploration, and Lunar Exploration. The Basic Principles area includes exhibits explaining vacuum and gravity, air resistance, and orbital motion, as well as a space-weight scale, escape velocity, an orbital experiment, a Magdeburg hemispheres vacuum device, and meteorites. First-time visitors can avoid confusing the roles of launch vehicles and satellites by following the sequence “Basic Principles → Rockets → Artificial Satellites.”

The Space Exploration area covers the International Space Station, spacesuits, and Mars exploration robots, while the Lunar Exploration area focuses on the laws of space and the history of human lunar exploration. Foreign visitors who are not accustomed to reading Korean may find it more efficient to focus first on visually comprehensible exhibits, such as rocket structures, satellites' roles in ground observation, communications, and weather observation, and how much a person would weigh on different planets, rather than reading every exhibition text.

A Real-Object Exhibition Hall with the Nuri 1st-Stage EM and TVC Test Equipment

The Real-Object Exhibition Hall displays actual test articles and development products produced during Korea's space-development program. Major exhibits include the KSR-III, the Nuri 1st-stage EM, and dynamic-characteristic test equipment for the Nuri 1st-stage TVC. EM stands for an engineering model used during development and testing, so visitors can examine the manufacturing and verification process rather than simply viewing the exterior of a completed launch vehicle.

This area is arranged to provide an overview of the past, present, and future of Korean rockets. After viewing the full-size Naroho model outdoors, entering the Real-Object Exhibition Hall helps visitors compare the continuity of development from the early scientific rockets through Naroho and Nuri. Visitors should refrain from touching the exhibits to protect them.

Reserve a Seat at the 197-Seat 3D Theater on a First-Come, First-Served Basis After Buying Admission

The 3D theater has 197 seats: 194 general seats and 3 wheelchair spaces. Theater tickets can be purchased on-site only by exhibition hall visitors. They cost 1,000 won and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Free admission is available to preschool children aged seven or younger, people with disabilities, national merit honorees, and basic livelihood security recipients.

Screenings are at 11:10, 13:10, and 15:10 on weekdays, and at 10:10, 13:10, 14:10, and 16:10 on weekends. Screening schedules and times may change depending on museum circumstances, so it is advisable to check the remaining seats and the applicable screening at the information center immediately after entering, then plan the exhibition route accordingly. Listed films include “Superpets,” “The Secret of Gravity,” and “Space Paradox.”

The Final Transfer Leg Connecting Seoul, Suncheon, Goheung, and Narodo Bus Terminal

When traveling by rail, the official recommended route is to travel from Yongsan Station to Suncheon Station, then continue via Suncheon Bus Terminal, Goheung Public Bus Terminal, and Narodo Bus Terminal to the Space Science Museum. Visitors using express buses from Seoul, Daejeon, or Busan also travel via Goheung Public Bus Terminal and Narodo Bus Terminal. The phone number for Narodo Bus Terminal is 061-833-6492, and the phone number for Goheung Bus Terminal is 061-833-0009.

The museum's official directions do not provide a bus number or walking time after Narodo Bus Terminal. Therefore, visitors relying solely on public transportation should separately check taxi availability or the local county bus schedule for the day at Narodo Terminal. The contact number for Narodo Taxi is 061-833-6677. Drivers can use the free parking lot, which is listed as accommodating 135 passenger cars and 20 large buses.

• Recommended visit duration: 1.5–2 hours for the exhibitions and outdoor Rocket Plaza only
• Including the 3D theater: 2–2.5 hours, depending on the screening time
• 注意: Bringing food and beverages inside, bringing pets other than guide dogs, and taking photographs with flashes or tripods are prohibited

An Accessible Route Using Accessible Parking, Elevators, and Wheelchair Rental

The Korea Tourism Organization's accessibility information lists accessible restrooms, an accessible elevator, designated accessible parking spaces, a level main entrance, wheelchair rental, a nursing room, and convenience services for visitors with visual or hearing impairments. The 3D theater has three wheelchair spaces, so visitors whose main purpose is to see a film should ask about seat availability immediately after entering.

The building contains an information center, a storage room, and a children's lounge on the first floor; a snack corner, convenience store, souvenir shop, coffee shop, and ATM on the basement level; and a library lounge and children's lounge on the second floor. Weekend space science classes may have different operating conditions depending on the program. For example, the 2026 “Make a Naroho” class is listed as running from 16:00 to 16:40 for elementary through high school students, with a capacity of 35 participants and a materials fee of 10,000 won, on a first-come, first-served basis on site.