South Korea officially launched its space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), on Monday to formulate the country’s space policy and contribute to the growth of the space sector. South Korea established KASA in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul. Moreover, the agency plans to fill its 293-strong workforce in phases.
“The establishment of KASA will be a milestone for South Korea becoming a powerhouse in the space economy by helping create a private-led space industry ecosystem,” Yoon Young-bin, KASA’s chief, said on his first day in office.
In addition, the chief explained that he would expand the role of the private space industry to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the sector. Hence, private companies are actively leading innovation in space technologies with more economic feasibility.
KASA to establish national space strategy
Among the major roles of KASA are creating the national strategy in the space field, conducting research and development projects, fostering talent, developing the industry, and promoting international cooperation. Moreover, the agency will lead South Korea’s space programs, which include landing a home-grown spacecraft on the moon in 2032 and Mars in 2045.
Notably, South Korea appointed John Lee, a former senior executive at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as KASA’s deputy administrator in charge of space missions and policies. In addition, it appointed Rho Kyung-won, a senior official at the Ministry of Science and ICT, as its deputy chief.
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The new space agency began operations today with about 110 people, including public officials who transferred from the science ministry and elsewhere. The launch of KASA came over a year after the government began the legislation process for the establishment and operation of the new space body in April last year.
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