Gangwon Province will establish a huge space camp together with a NASA-affiliated education center and two Korean firms in Chuncheon by 2016, provincial officials said Monday.

Representatives from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Mirinae Development Corp. and Kyobo Securities signed an MOU for the construction of Space Camp Korea, the first of its kind in Asia.

The province, in cooperation with Mirinae, has pushed for a NASA-linked space education program in Chuncheon since it signed a licensing agreement with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in 2012.

Kyobo Securities will fund the project with an investment of 250 billion won ($235.3 million) while the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will provide real space rockets and diverse equipment to allow a hands-on experience, the province said.

The space camp, examples of which are currently operating in the United States, Canada, Belgium and Turkey, is expected to increase young people’s interest in the sciences and help them in choosing their career path, officials said.

The complex will also include shopping outlets, spas, hotels, art galleries and camping grounds for visitors.

According to the plan set out by the provincial office, construction of Space Camp Korea is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2016.

By Kim Joo-hyun (jhk@heraldcorp.com)