'Level 6 Annual Salary of 100 Million Won' Space Aviation Agency Competition Rate 16 to 1... Securing Executive-Level Personnel Is Key

The recruitment of 50 general fixed-term public officials for the Space Aviation Agency was a success. Offering an annual salary of 100 million KRW even for grade 6 positions, which is among the top 20% in the industry, is cited as a key factor for this success. However, there are also concerns about securing key executive-level talents such as the mission headquarters chief who will lead the Space Aviation Agency.

On March 19, a recruitment briefing session for the Space Aviation Agency was held at the Science and Technology Hall located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Baek Jong-min

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According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 26th, a total of 807 applications were received for the Space Aviation Agency general fixed-term public official recruitment, which closed on the 25th. The average competition rate was 16.1 to 1.

By rank, for senior researchers (grade 5), 415 candidates applied for 22 positions, showing an average competition rate of 18.9:1. The average competition rate for grade 6 researchers was 13.1:1, and for grade 7 researchers, it was 14.7:1.

Lee Jae-hyung, head of the Space Aviation Agency Establishment Promotion Team, explained, "A large number of applications were submitted on the deadline," and described the recruitment as successful.

Offering salaries at the upper tier of the industry is understood to be the reason for the large number of applicants. Successful candidates are offered salaries of 80 million to 110 million KRW for grade 5, 70 million to 100 million KRW for grade 6, and 60 million to 90 million KRW for grade 7. If the Space Aviation Agency chief recognizes the necessity, higher salaries are also possible.

The Space Aviation Agency Establishment Promotion Team will announce the successful candidates of the document screening on April 8, conduct interviews on April 18-19, and announce the final successful candidates on May 10.

The remaining challenge is securing executive-level talent. The Ministry of Science and ICT is promoting recruitment for executive-level and foreign staff through demand surveys rather than open recruitment. The demand survey will be conducted until April 15. Among the positions to be recruited, the mission headquarters chief, head of space transportation division, head of satellite division, head of space science exploration division, and head of aviation innovation division correspond to senior public official grade A. Foreign nationals, including those with dual citizenship, can also be appointed to executive positions.

The government is pushing to recruit personnel from NASA or overseas space companies for these positions, but it is reported that there is a significant salary gap. The mission headquarters chief, equivalent to vice minister level, is offered 250 million KRW, and division heads, also at vice minister level, are offered 140 million KRW, but these are considered not very high compared to the salaries set for junior staff below grade 5.

An industry insider explained, "Compared to executives of domestic space aviation companies, the salaries for Space Aviation Agency executives are not high, but there are experts who want to work in high government positions and directly handle government policies." Especially for executives, the possibility of working for 10 years at the Space Aviation Agency is a positive factor.

The insider also said, "Compared to NASA and SpaceX, the Space Aviation Agency has no advantage in terms of salary, so long-term supplementary measures such as support for living conditions need to be prepared."

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