[Reading Science] The Korean Version of 'NASA' Is a Misnomer

The public hearing on the Special Act for the Space and Aviation Agency, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 15th of last month, was disappointing. There was no sharp analysis or brilliant ideas. However, one person stood out: Kim Byung-jin, chairman of Satrec Initiative, who participated as a representative of a private company. He launched the Our Star satellite during his time at KAIST and is currently elevating the status of Korean satellite manufacturing technology worldwide. He revisited the fundamental question of ‘Why is a Space and Aviation Agency necessary?’

The recent efforts to reform the space development governance system have been driven by the need to establish an independent and autonomous control tower for space development to prevent political interference and to create a strong institution that can lead cooperation between ministries and between the public and private sectors. Space has become critically influential in areas such as the economy, security, and defense, yet Korea still treats it as just one of many scientific and technological fields and uses it as a tool for political achievements. Representative examples include the Park Geun-hye administration advancing the lunar exploration schedule for political reasons and the Lee Myung-bak administration cutting the budget for independent launch vehicle development after the failure of the Naro rocket launch.

Even within ministries, the Ministry of Science and ICT is losing influence. Recently, the Ministry of National Defense went ahead with a test launch of a solid-fuel space launch vehicle, but the Ministry of Science and ICT could not say a word, despite legally being responsible for overseeing space launch vehicles. Strengthening expertise is also a key task. The civil servant organization, where duties change every two years, suffers from significantly low expertise. There have also been frequent clashes with on-site research and development (R&D) organizations. In the increasingly intense space diplomacy amid the US-China space development competition, there is a need to enhance reliability and representation. Kim’s pointed remarks at the hearing were very meaningful then and are even more so now. The government’s Special Act to establish the Space and Aviation Agency, passed at the Cabinet meeting on the 4th, and the Democratic Party’s bill to establish a Space Strategy Headquarters, proposed the next day, are currently in conflict. There is a risk that the reform of space development governance could go off course like a ‘boat with too many captains.’ The reason organizations and individuals fail is precisely when they confuse purpose and means. At times like this, it is essential to return to the beginning, reconsider principles and focus, and review the direction of space development governance reform accordingly.

In that regard, I would like to point out a few things. The idea of a ‘Korean version of NASA’ is absurd. Korea’s current space development budget is about 800 billion won, while NASA’s exceeds 30 trillion won, more than 30 times larger. The technological level lags by at least 30 to 50 years. Of course, there are clear reasons to accelerate space development despite this. At minimum, Korea must hold enough stake to enter the ‘gamble’ of space development. However, the possibility of creating a second semiconductor miracle is slim. At best, Korea can use space technology for domestic purposes, as a bargaining chip, or to pioneer niche markets. Attempting to conduct R&D like NASA would likely cause more confusion. National research institutes are already performing well. The discussion should focus on how to succeed in R&D and industrial development in space, which is like a ‘comprehensive art’ in the scientific field, with a small budget and a select few experts.

Second, the Ministry of Science and ICT should give up on space. For an independent and autonomous organization, a vice-ministerial ‘Space and Aviation Agency’ under the Ministry of Science and ICT has clear limitations. If it cannot be directly under the President, it would be better placed under the Prime Minister. The agency must have the authority to enact its own laws and regulations to maintain autonomy over organization, personnel, and budget. Third, the government’s space development budget for the next decade will be at most around 1 trillion won, which is essentially all the capital the Korean space industry has. Unless a technological revolution occurs, the reality is harsh. More meticulous efforts must be made to nurture the private space industry.

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