[2025 Audit] "One and a Half Years Since Establishment, Still Unsettled"...Space Aviation Administration Faces Heavy Criticism at Government Audit

Controversy Over Rushed Implementation of Reusable Launch Vehicles, Criticism Over KPS Delays and Control Tower Capabilities
Industry: "Project Stagnation Has Cut Off Work"
Government: "Confident of Achieving Goals Within 10 to 20 Years"

The Space Aviation Administration, which marked one and a half years since its establishment, faced harsh criticism during its first government audit. Although it presented a blueprint for "becoming one of the world's top five space powers," lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, as well as industry witnesses, repeatedly pointed out shortcomings in both organizational stability and policy execution.

During the government audit by the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee on the 16th, the operational system and personnel structure of the Space Aviation Administration came under scrutiny.

Yoon Youngbin, Administrator of the Space Aviation Administration, is delivering a greeting at the 2025 National Audit held on the 16th at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Hoonki, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, said, "Although the agency claims it will pursue a reusable launch vehicle project, I question whether the current capabilities and level of the Space Aviation Administration are sufficient. The organization is unstable, and there are many issues with staffing as well."

He criticized the agency by comparing the starting annual salary for a new Ph.D. at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (55.79 million won) with the entry-level salary for a university graduate at Samsung Electronics (56 million won), saying, "We are already losing the competition to attract talent. Some even say that the Space Aviation Administration, which is only a year old, needs to be rebuilt from scratch."

In response, Administrator Yoon Youngbin stated, "We have secured outstanding personnel, and they have established our strategies and roadmap. I believe we will be able to achieve our goals in 10 to 20 years."

'Reusable Launch Vehicle' Rushed Implementation and KPS Delay Controversy

The biggest point of contention was the shift in the next-generation launch vehicle development project to a "methane-based reusable launch vehicle." Noh Jongmyeon, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, criticized, "A project that had already passed the preliminary feasibility study was changed without any legal review, and there was no prior consultation with the Ministry of Science and ICT."

Lee Changjin, an expert member of the Korea Space Technology Promotion Association (and an honorary professor at Konkuk University), who appeared as a witness, commented, "While I agree with the direction of introducing reusable launch vehicles, approaching it solely from an economic standpoint is very hasty." He suggested, "Adjusting the project pace or redesigning it as a separate new program could reduce industry confusion and sunk costs."

Lee Junwon, Executive Vice President of Hanwha Aerospace, expressed concern, saying, "The most regrettable thing is that the project has been stalled for over a year, leaving us with no work. A prompt decision is needed."

Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Jongmyeon is asking questions at the 2025 National Audit held on the 16th at the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

There were also repeated warnings that the Korean Positioning System (KPS) project requires thorough review. Chairwoman Minhee Choi pointed out, "The KPS project, which is receiving 3.7 trillion won in funding, has been delayed by 20 months, but the launch schedule remains unchanged. There has also been no discussion regarding the reliance on Cisco's time synchronization equipment." She further noted, "The personnel system and research and development (R&D) system of the Space Aviation Administration need to be remodeled."

The issue of 5 billion won in budget being left unused due to overlapping projects planned without prior consultation with the Ministry of National Defense was also raised. In response, Administrator Yoon explained, "I thought it would be possible to make changes within the scope of research that aligns with our objectives during the process of making changes. We did not seek legal review."

Control Tower Controversy..."No Results Yet, Many Challenges Remain"

Park Junghoon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, remarked, "With Sacheon being so far away, policy-making efficiency is reduced. There are concerns that after a year and a half, the Space Aviation Administration is left as an empty shell."

Regarding the Democratic Party's bill to establish a separate "Space Development Control Organization," he raised concerns about confusion, noting, "The bill was proposed without any consultation with the Space Aviation Administration."

On the 16th, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee held in Yeouido, Seoul, during the 2025 government audit, Chairman Minhee Choi declared the press to leave and the meeting proceeded privately while officials from the audited agencies and the press waited to enter. Photo by Yonhap News

The Space Aviation Administration announced plans to allocate a budget of 1.1131 trillion won for next year and to create a "New Space Fund" worth 200 billion won to foster private space startups.

Lee Junghyun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, demonstrated a lunar exploration rover from the startup Unmanned Exploration Research Institute during the audit and urged, "We need to introduce a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), so that startups can carry out innovative R&D." Lee Haemin, a lawmaker from the Progressive Innovation Party, emphasized, "Development focused solely on national defense has limitations in commercializing profitable technologies. The Space Aviation Administration must lead public-private cooperation."

An industry official commented, "Policy consistency from the government is the lifeline of the industry. The Space Aviation Administration must demonstrate a sense of balance, adjusting the pace of technological transition while also fostering an ecosystem of private innovation."