KT Sat, a subsidiary of Korea-based KT Corporation, signed the contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of KoreaSat-5. The satellite would provide Internet access, multimedia, broadcasting and fixed communications services.

Built on the Upgraded Spacebus-4000B2 platform from Thales Alenia Space, Koreasat-5 will carry Ku-band transponders and will cover Korea, Japan, Indochina and the Middle-East. The satellite weighed about 3,500kgs at launch and offered a payload power of about 7kW. KoreaSat-5 is positioned at 113° East.

KoreaSat-5 was launched on August 20th, 2006, on a Zenit 3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch.