Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, "Research and Development Must Not Be Excluded from the Space Aviation Agency, Do Not Block Its Establishment"

Gyeongnam Province submitted a special law on the establishment and operation of the Space Aviation Agency last April, but criticism is rising as it remains stalled in the National Assembly for months amid conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties.

Recently, at the agenda coordination committee of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, most issues, including the chairman and secretary of the Space Aviation Agency, seemed to reach an agreement, but disputes flared up again over the research and development functions.

The argument arose that if the Space Aviation Agency, to be established in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, undertakes research and development, the functions of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute in Daejeon would be diminished.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province is leading the expanded executive meeting in October.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

On the 16th, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, expressed his discomfort regarding this issue at the expanded executive meeting held in October.

Governor Park pointed out, “The special law for the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency, which will lead South Korea's space economy vision, has still not been passed,” adding, “Blocking the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency, a national long-term project, due to the selfishness of specific regions or institutions, should be condemned by the public.”

He emphasized, “Just as research and development functions are the most important tasks at NASA in the United States, these cannot be excluded from the functions of the Space Aviation Agency.”

Leading the Gyeongnam delegation from the 4th for 8 nights and 10 days to visit NASA and other organizations for cooperation in the space industry, Governor Park explained, “Space technology is an essential element of industries such as satellites and aviation.”

“NASA is the institution that American public officials most want to work for, attracting companies and talent to the area,” he said, urging, “The launch of the Space Aviation Agency will be a turning point for Gyeongnam's development, so we must do our best to create settlement conditions and foster related industries.”

He also ordered firm follow-up measures, mentioning the decision to strengthen exchanges of companies and personnel with Maryland, where NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is located and the space aviation industry is developed, as well as the achievements in investment attraction and export consultations through the World Korean Business Convention.

Gyeongnam Province plans to make every effort to protect the research and development functions of the Space Aviation Agency while ensuring the passage of the special law at the National Assembly plenary session in November and the early opening of the agency's headquarters.

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