워커린스페이스

WorkerInSpace (㈜워커린스페이스) is a South Korean space technology company developing a Versatile Robotic Spacecraft (VEROS) for on-orbit servicing (OOS) and in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM). Its planned service lines cover satellite life extension and assurance through refueling, repair and component replacement, orbit maintenance, inspection and space-tug/towing; in-space manufacturing, assembly and integration; active removal and de-orbiting of defunct satellites and debris; and national space asset protection.

The company was established on 3 January 2024 in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, and is registered under the "other engineering research and development" industry classification with Kim Hae-dong as chief executive. It reports 24 employees (national pension basis) and revenue of KRW 844.76 million. Company materials describe it as the only specialist firm in Korea working on space servicing, and state a goal of becoming one of the top three global players in OOS and ISAM, with an IPO targeted by 2030. Its approach combines humanoid robotics with satellite technology to provide maintenance and repair of satellites in orbit.

Operations are split between the Jinju headquarters and a research and development centre in Sejong. The company obtained corporate research institute certification in November 2024 and opened the Sejong research centre in January 2025, where it began robotic satellite system design and installed a three-dimensional microgravity simulation facility described as the first implemented by a private company in Korea.

Founding story

The company was set up in January 2024 in Jinju to commercialise satellite life-extension services such as refueling, repair and replacement, towing and satellite disposal using versatile robotic spacecraft. Its chief executive, Kim Hae-dong, has about 30 years of research and development experience in the space field, and the founding team includes researchers with satellite and robotics R&D backgrounds.

Business model

The company plans to sell on-orbit servicing to satellite owners and operators, covering refueling, repair and replacement, orbit maintenance, inspection, towing, de-orbiting and debris removal, as well as in-space manufacturing and assembly services. Alongside commercial contracts it draws on government-funded research programmes, having been selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Deep Tech Challenge Project, the Korea Aerospace Administration Space Challenge Project and a KASA in-orbit refueling technology project.

Revenue is expected from servicing contracts with satellite operators for life extension, repair, relocation and disposal, supplemented by government R&D project funding; reported revenue is KRW 844.76 million.

Traction

Cumulative investment of KRW 11 billion over two years, including a KRW 2 billion seed round in 2024 and a KRW 9 billion pre-A round; approximately KRW 8.8 billion in government programme budget secured in the year of the pre-A announcement; selection for TIPS (December 2024), the Deep Tech Challenge Project, the Space Challenge Project and a KRW 1.7 billion KASA in-orbit refueling project; a purchase letter of intent signed with KT SAT; 24 employees and KRW 844.76 million revenue.

Latest developments

In July 2025 WorkerInSpace was selected to lead a four-year, KRW 1.7 billion (about $1.2M) Korea Aerospace Administration project on autonomous in-orbit refueling technologies for reusable orbital vehicles, targeting TRL5 and above and covering high-precision rendezvous/docking, fuel transfer, mission scenario analysis and digital twin-based ground control. The consortium includes Gyeongsang National University, Sejong University, Pusan National University, SpaceSolution, MoaSoft and demand-side partner Korea Aerospace Industries. The company then completed a KRW 9 billion pre-A round led by IMM Investment, exceeding its KRW 7 billion target, and reported securing about KRW 8.8 billion of government programme budget in the same year.