The nation's youth will be able to experience space exploration at a specially designed center at the southern tip of Korea.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said a national youth space experience center will be built on an island in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.

Groundbreaking began Wednesday for the facility to be completed by 2010.

The center will cost 48 billion won, or more than 48 million dollars. It will feature a mock launch control facility and space shuttle.

Aided by its proximity to a national space center to be completed by 2015, the youth facility will also provide various programs for young Koreans to learn about space.