Seoul, South Korea – 26 August, 2026 – ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space, has announced the formal establishment of ICEYE Korea. As part of this, Eric Rhee has been appointed Head of ICEYE Korea. ICEYE also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Seoul National University (SNU) to explore joint research and education in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Earth observation, small satellites, and AI-based satellite operations.
ICEYE Korea, established in June 2026, extends the company's presence in Asia. Its immediate priority is helping Korea's defense and intelligence customers access advanced ISR capabilities, alongside broader support for the country's growing space and defense ecosystem through technology validation, supply-chain participation, and talent development.
The Memorandum of Understanding with Seoul National University sets out a framework to explore a long-term partnership in SAR Earth observation, small satellites, AI-based image analysis, and autonomous satellite operations. Under the collaboration, the parties intend to explore establishing a joint SNU-ICEYE Cooperation Center for research, education, and satellite operations, and to evaluate opportunities for joint R&D on satellite systems, SAR processing, AI analytics, and next-generation space technologies.
The parties will also explore use of ICEYE SAR data to support research in disaster response, maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, and defense and security applications, and aim to develop education programmes, internships, and graduate research and exchange opportunities to help build space-sector talent in Korea. The collaboration is further intended to connect with Korea's broader space ecosystem, including government and industry stakeholders, as both parties look to support the growth of Korea's domestic SAR industry.
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said: "Korea is an important market for us in Asia, and establishing ICEYE Korea marks the next step in our long-term commitment to the country. With Eric leading our team on the ground, we're well positioned to deepen our work with government, industry and academia to support Korea's ambitions in sovereign space and defense capability."
Eric Rhee, Head of ICEYE Korea, said: “Korea is where my family's roots are, and contributing to the country's safety and resilience has always mattered deeply to me. Leading ICEYE in Korea gives me the chance to pursue that vision alongside a growing team whose commitment aligns with where ICEYE is headed. I look forward to strengthening our partnerships here and delivering capabilities that truly matter."
Rhee leads ICEYE's business strategy in Korea, working with defense, government, and commercial stakeholders across mission satellites, Earth observation data, and satellite-based solutions to build sovereign space and operational capability for the country. He brings more than 15 years of experience across defense, aerospace, and space systems, including service as a Field Artillery Section Chief in the U.S. Army with combat experience in Afghanistan, and holds a B.S. in Management and an MBA in Finance from Pepperdine University.