Executive Summary:
South Korea is positioning itself to become a global leader in next-generation ultra-high-speed transportation through the development of its own hyperloop system, known as Hypertube. With strategic investment, world-class engineering capabilities, and institutional support, Korea aims to commercialize a maglev-based system capable of speeds exceeding 1,200 km/h, offering transformative potential for national economic development and global export competitiveness.
Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/t ... late-start Accessed 2025-05-05The Korean government launched a task force on April 9 to develop the country’s own hyperloop technologies, investing 12.7 billion won ($8.8 million) for initial research.
Background:
Despite a late entry compared to countries like China, Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands, Korea brings substantial expertise to hyperloop development. Its high-speed rail systems, including KTX (300 km/h) and the GTX (180 km/h), demonstrate operational capability. The Korean government launched a Hypertube task force in April 2024, allocating ₩12.7 billion ($8.8 million USD) for foundational research, with coordination led by the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI).
Strategic Technologies and Capabilities:
Korea's Hypertube initiative leverages key technologies:
Superconductive electromagnets for levitation and propulsion, enabling high efficiency at ultra-high speeds.
Low-pressure tube infrastructure, including the world’s first near-vacuum tube using ultra-high-density concrete—30% cheaper than steel and more energy efficient.
Electric propulsion systems, adapted from Korea’s KTX-Hemu, using synchronized electric motors optimized for high-speed performance.
Telecommunications and control technologies capable of managing Doppler shifts and real-time control at extreme velocities.
These systems build on Korea’s broader strengths in semiconductor engineering, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure. Korea Electric Power Corp. is expanding nationwide direct-current power supply infrastructure to support the future energy demands of Hypertube operations.
Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/t ... late-start Accessed 2025-05-05According to Lee Won-sang, vice president of Hyundai Rotem who works for the company’s Rail Solution R&D Center, GTX was an “accomplishment that infused all the latest railway technologies Korea could offer. But to move at a speed faster than 370 km/h, a train must stay afloat instead of on wheels because air resistance more than doubles and it requires greater energy to maintain a high speed," Lee said.”
Development Timeline:
2024–2028: Technology verification and component-level testing.
2029–2037: Full-scale test runs using prototype vehicles.
2038 onward: Launch of pilot commercial service along selected routes, with gradual expansion toward national coverage.
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Photo: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/t ... late-start Accessed 2025-05-05A scaled-down version of driving stabilization equipment for the Hypertube at the Korea Railroad Research Institute in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, in this 2024 photo / Courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Economic and Strategic Implications:
Hypertube is central to Korea’s long-term strategy for balanced regional development, reducing reliance on Seoul and improving connectivity across the country. It will:
Enable nationwide high-speed freight and passenger mobility.
Stimulate local economies through improved logistics and accessibility.
Strengthen Korea’s leadership in advanced infrastructure exports, particularly in Asia and Central Asia, as seen with the export of KTX-Eum to Uzbekistan.
Experts highlight East Asia’s demographic density and technological maturity as ideal conditions for hyperloop systems, giving Korea a strategic foothold in a market poised for exponential growth.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
With sustained investment and coordinated public-private collaboration, Korea can commercialize the Hypertube within the next 10 to 15 years, solidifying its role as a pioneer in ultra-high-speed transport.
Further reading: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/t ... late-start Accessed 2025-05-05
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