Yoon Sends Coffee Truck to Encourage, Awards 4.2 Billion KRW to Nuriho and Danurihor Contributors

Reflection of President Yoon's Principle to Encourage and Support Where Needed Despite Austerity Measures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The government will provide special rewards to contributors to the successful launches of the Korean launch vehicle Nuriho-2 and the lunar exploration orbiter Danuriho.

On the 5th, the Presidential Office and related ministries announced plans to award bonuses to participants in these projects, which are considered significant research and development achievements in the space sector this year.

The total reward amounting to 4.24 billion KRW has been included as a "special reward" item in next year's budget proposal for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) after consultations between the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

This reward will be distributed to 320 contributors to the Nuriho launch and 130 contributors to the Danuriho launch. Additionally, some of this will likely be allocated to all KARI employees. A Presidential Office official stated, "The government has allocated a special reward of 4.24 billion KRW in next year's KARI budget, and KARI will set criteria such as contribution levels to distribute the funds."

An official explained that the unusual provision of rewards to government-funded research institutes in the science and technology sector reflects President Yoon Suk-yeol's principle that, despite a tight fiscal policy, funds should be invested to encourage and support areas that achieve results.

Earlier, on July 6, President Yoon visited KARI's headquarters in Daejeon and sent two coffee trucks carrying 1,000 servings of coffee and cookies to encourage the researchers who succeeded in the Nuriho mission.

At a meeting with Nuriho researchers and industry representatives, President Yoon also promised to "transfer launch vehicle technology to companies to strengthen industrial competitiveness."

The KARI rewards are expected to be paid early next year after the national budget is finalized through National Assembly review and the final approval by the National Research Council of Science & Technology board.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.