With the National Assembly's Passage of the Space Agency Special Act, the Government Also Applies Pressure

Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT Holds Press Conference on the 27th
"Will Serve as a Practical Control Tower for Aerospace Policy"
Refutes Opposition's Arguments, Reveals Basic Directions for Organization and Operation

Following the ruling party, the government has also stepped up pressure for the passage of the special law establishing the Space and Aviation Agency in the National Assembly.

On the morning of the 27th, Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, held a press conference at the Government Seoul Office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, reaffirming that the newly established Space and Aviation Agency will serve as the practical control tower for space and aviation policy. This is interpreted as a gesture to break through the opposition from the opposition party, which has been against the passage of the special law for the establishment of the Space and Aviation Agency submitted to the National Assembly in May for completely opposite reasons.

Minister Lee made this announcement while unveiling the "Basic Direction for the Establishment and Operation of the Space and Aviation Agency," which includes the establishment direction, roles by institution, and organizational structure of the agency. At the event, he clearly stated that the purpose of establishing the Space and Aviation Agency is to reform and strengthen the space development governance system. He explained, "The Space and Aviation Agency will be a dedicated organization representing the nation in space and aviation, expanding and strengthening its functions not only in policy and research and development but also in industrial promotion and international cooperation, concretizing the 'Future Space Economy Roadmap.' The chairmanship of the National Space Committee will be elevated to the President (currently the Prime Minister), and the Space and Aviation Agency will perform secretariat functions and act as the control tower for space and aviation." He added, "We plan to establish an organization that secures firm leadership and operates a network-type system as a professional and flexible organization."

This is interpreted as a message to pressure the passage of the bill in response to the opposition party's reasons for opposing the special law for the Space and Aviation Agency. The opposition party argues that since the government plan places the agency under the Ministry of Science and ICT, it will be difficult for it to serve as the overall control tower for policy and budget, and thus insists on establishing an independent institution.

Minister Lee then presented a detailed plan for the organization of the newly established Space and Aviation Agency. It will have a vice-minister-level chief, a deputy chief, and headquarters heads, starting with divisions for launch vehicles, space science and exploration, satellites, advanced aviation, space and aviation policy, space and aviation business, and international cooperation. To challenge being the "world's first," the international cooperation division will be directly under the chief.

The organization will be broadly divided into mission organizations and institutional operation organizations. The mission organizations will handle policy, research and development, business, and international cooperation, while budget, legal affairs, personnel, and public communication will be managed by the institutional operation organizations. For national infrastructure with significant public and security characteristics, it is under consideration to organize them as affiliated institutions. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute will remain under the National Research Council of Science & Technology as before.

Minister Lee stated, "We will thoroughly prepare to ensure a smooth transfer of the various tasks and projects currently carried out by related ministries, research management agencies, and government-funded research institutes in advance of the opening of the Space and Aviation Agency." He added, "We will do our best to lead the world in the space and aviation field as our country opens the agency." He also said, "We will actively cooperate with the National Assembly's bill review, coordinate with related ministries, and prepare necessary subordinate legislation in advance to ensure the agency can open as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, the government and ruling party have been pushing forward the establishment of the Space and Aviation Agency, which had stalled after President Yoon Suk-yeol mentioned an 'interest cartel' and ordered a full review of the national research and development (R&D) budget at the end of last month. Recently, Jang Je-won, chairman of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, mentioned the passage of the special law for the Space and Aviation Agency as a condition for his resignation.

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