[Power K-Women] Shim Chaekyung, Senior Researcher at Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute: "The Universe is a Vast Nature"

Doubts About Lunar Exploration Are a Scientifically Healthy Attitude
Insight Needed Rather Than Vague Confrontation
Women Rare in Astronomy Should Be Role Models and Unite
But Should Not Blindly Follow Others' Lives, Open Their Own Paths with Unique Styles

Editor's NoteAsia Economy will select women active not only in Asia but around the world as 'Power K-Women' at the Women's Leaders Forum to be held this October. We have chosen individuals who have overcome and broken down boundaries such as race, nationality, and disability as 'Power K-Women.' This is to widely promote the value of those who have not been intimidated by discrimination or confined by boundaries but have fought back, and to convey new values of leadership to youth and women. Their stories will provide comfort to a weary world, become role models for someone, and give communities the strength to move forward again.

Date ｜ Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 9:00 AM ? 4:30 PM
Venue ｜ Lotte Hotel Crystal Ballroom (2F), Sogong-dong

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Life is frightening. Tomorrow is always a day I have not yet experienced, so every day is scary. Let's have deep conversations with the women around us, take each other as role models, and unite."

Shim Chaekyung (40), a senior researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), who is gaining global attention as a next-generation researcher to open Korea's 'space age,' gave this advice to junior female scientists. She also emphasized the attitude of confidently walking her own path. Shim said, "Since we do not yet have a sufficient problem bank, we should not blindly follow other women's lives or treat them as absolute comparison targets, but open our own paths in our own styles." She added, "After going back and forth countless times in a zigzag pattern through trial and error, when you suddenly look back, all those paths will have merged into a very big road."

Shim is an emerging researcher making outstanding achievements in planetary science and space exploration, fields known for having few women, within the astronomy community. Planetary science studies all celestial bodies and their surrounding environments in the solar system except Earth and the Sun, handling observational data obtained from ground telescopes and space probes. For over 20 years, she has focused on Jupiter, Saturn, comets, Titan, interstellar space, the Moon, and Mercury. Currently, she plays a key role in Korea's first lunar orbiter project at KASI. In 2019, the international journal Nature named her one of five next-generation scientists who will lead future lunar science on the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.

Regarding the Danuri project and her role, Shim explained, "It is Korea's first lunar orbiter, maintaining a 100 km orbit above the Moon for one year to observe the lunar surface." She added, "It carries four observation instruments developed domestically and one developed by NASA, and I am part of the 'Wide-field Polarimetric Camera' (PolCam) team." She set the scientific goals for PolCam and designed the operational scenarios. When full-scale observations begin early next year, she plans to operate the camera and analyze the data.

Some still harbor doubts about lunar exploration. Shim responded coolly, "Having doubts can be considered a scientifically healthy attitude." However, she emphasized, "It is important not to replace such interest with vague prejudices but to have an insightful attitude to find answers yourself." As a scientist, she explained, "The universe is a vast nature. Exploring space is no different from exploring high mountains, deep jungles, or dark deep seas. As part of nature, observing and investigating nature is a natural act."

She further explained that if humanity aims to advance into space, the Moon is the first stepping stone. It is the best rehearsal stage and natural laboratory where humanity can test and gain experience on how to stay safe, healthy, and thrive in space for extended periods.

Shim also shared that there is significant international interest in Korea's Danuri and lunar exploration. She said, "There are only a few lunar scientists in Korea, and until a few months ago, Korea had no experience launching a lunar probe. We are latecomers with small budgets and personnel, and there is no dedicated government space agency to lead long-term efforts, so we cannot be called a leading country. However, Korea's potential capabilities are being recognized, and we cooperate mutually with other countries." For example, KASI collaborates extensively with NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, and other leading space exploration countries, and is responsible for key technology research in the next-generation ultra-high-performance space telescope SPHEREx project.

However, Shim advised that for Korea to truly develop into a strong science, technology, and space development nation, continuous investment and resource input are necessary. She said, "Highly knowledgeable experts in astronomy and space exploration must be continuously involved in policy formulation and implementation." She pointed out, "When professionals from other fields handle science and technology policies, they may make inappropriate decisions, and many people may experience multiple trials and errors." She added, "It would be very helpful to establish and sustain long-term outlooks and execution plans. Especially in space exploration, which often takes more than ten years from start to finish, a system that oversees and supports the entire process in policy areas is needed. Also, as much effort should be put into software, personnel support, and nurturing the next generation as into hardware."

As a member of the MZ generation, Shim had much to say about Korea's still serious gender discrimination. She recalled a representative case where, during a job interview at a research institute, one interviewer asked, "Since you are a woman, won't your giving birth cause inconvenience to others?" but no one stopped or questioned this.

Shim said, "Dr. Lee So-yeon, who participated in the 2008 International Space Station (ISS) mission, left many meaningful research achievements but was later criticized as 'waste of tax money' and 'freeloader.' If she were not a woman, the situation might have been different." She lamented, "(As a female scientist) I have experienced much gender discrimination and glass ceiling realities, but we have not yet properly dealt with them. No matter how many times we experience them, we do not get used to it; rather, it remains as trauma. Although things have improved compared to before, our society still needs much more change."

She emphasized the need for efforts from fellow scientists, the scientific community, and society as a whole. Shim said, "Scientists are trained to think critically, so when society sends messages demanding change, they tend to implement them relatively well. They are willing to change but often do not know exactly what and how the problems are, so they cannot change. It is necessary to point out issues that were as natural as air and to provide concrete behavioral alternatives." Regarding institutional support such as gender quotas, she said, "They are necessary, but in specialized professions where the number of hires is small, there is a strong negative perception that women occupy positions just because they are women. It seems more trials and errors are needed before things change," expressing regret.

Researcher Shim Chaekyung Profile

▲ Born in 1982
▲ Graduated from Kyung Hee University, College of Applied Science, Department of Space Science in 2005
▲ Earned Ph.D. in Space Exploration from the same university in 2014
▲ Postdoctoral researcher and academic research professor at Kyung Hee University from 2014 to 2020
▲ Selected as one of the 'Five Next-Generation Scientists Leading Future Lunar Science' by the international journal Nature in 2019
▲ Published essay Astronomers Don't Look at Stars in 2021
▲ Senior researcher at Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute since 2020