Park Suhyun, Blue House Chief of Public Communication, Shares Behind-the-Scenes Story of Nuriho Launch Test on Facebook
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The Blue House explained that President Moon Jae-in personally revised his national address to emphasize the achievements of researchers while announcing the test launch results of Korea's indigenous launch vehicle, Nuriho. The Blue House also revealed that they considered not delivering a live broadcast speech in the event of the Nuriho test launch failure, but ultimately the President decided to proceed with the speech.
Park Soo-hyun, the Blue House Chief of Public Communication, shared behind-the-scenes stories related to the Nuriho test launch on his Facebook page on the 24th.
Chief Park explained, "(The Blue House) science and technology advisor proposed a toned-down version of the speech with the concept of 'Jjeotjalsa' (meaning 'lost but fought well'), but the President said, 'Although we could not place the dummy satellite into orbit, the first and second stage combustion and separation, as well as the fairing, all succeeded, so I will write the speech to celebrate the achievements as much as possible within a non-exaggerated scope,' and began revising the speech himself."
At the time, the Blue House had prepared presidential speeches for both the success and failure scenarios of the Nuriho test launch, but President Moon revised the speech content on site.
Chief Park said, "He filled the speech with sentences emphasizing the goals achieved rather than the results not attained," adding, "'Reaching an altitude of 700 km through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stages of the launch vehicle is a great achievement' was the message he personally revised and delivered to the public on site."
Chief Park also conveyed, "The President sent individual encouragement messages to the researchers separately and on the way back to Seoul, he repeatedly urged, 'Make sure to properly convey the achievements we have made to the public and boost the morale of the research team.'"
The Blue House did not hide the fact that there was concern about whether President Moon would attend the site, given that the success probability of the Nuriho launch was less than 30%.
Chief Park said, "At the staff meeting, it was discussed that in case of failure, the President would only encourage the researchers without a live broadcast speech and then return," adding, "However, the President sent instructions saying, 'Even in case of failure, I will deliver a live broadcast speech myself, and the content will include the accumulation of technology we have secured so far and the challenges and significance of Korea's space development.'"
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