[Exclusive] Military to Establish Space Operations Command by 2030

Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, South Korea, is a historic site where the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho,' completed with domestic technology for the first time in Korea in 2021, made its maiden launch. Over the past decade, the global space industry has more than doubled in size, and we have entered an era where civilians are beginning space tourism. South Korea is not behind. Starting with the launch of 'Nuriho,' the performance of subsequent launch vehicles will be further advanced, and South Korea will achieve challenging space exploration goals such as the 2030 lunar lander mission.
Goheung ? Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The military will establish a Space Operations Command by 2030. This aims to consolidate the space operation missions of each branch of the military and actively engage in space operations.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 3rd, "On the 1st, we established a Space Power Division within the Joint Chiefs, assigning one colonel, six lieutenant colonels, and three majors. We plan to publish a space strategy document this month that defines the space operation missions of each military branch."

Based on the newly established Space Power Division, the Joint Chiefs plan to create the Space Operations Command and deploy four space surveillance systems, three satellite systems, and one counter-space operation system by 2035. The military set the establishment year as 2030 because the government announced plans to launch 14 low Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellites by 2031 to verify satellite communication technology in low orbit. Russia and the United States established space forces in 2015 and 2019, respectively. Following China, Japan, and France, the United Kingdom and Germany also established space commands last year.

Some predict that selecting the primary military branch responsible for space operations will take time. In 2020, the Ministry of National Defense attempted to designate the Air Force as the primary branch for space operations, but this was blocked due to opposition from the Army and Navy. In November 2020, Lee Chae-ik, a member of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee from the People Power Party, attempted to propose an amendment to the Military Organization Act to designate the Air Force as the primary branch, but the Ministry of National Defense suggested a thorough review, and the bill was not submitted as of February last year.