The Underwhelming Space Agency Act Public Hearing... 'Location and Treatment Controversy' Missing

Afternoon of the 15th Hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT

"The hottest topic was the physical and organizational location of the Space Aviation Agency, but I think the time to discuss that has passed."

This was a statement made by Kim Byung-jin, chairman of Satrec Initiative, at the public hearing on the enactment of the Special Act for the Establishment of the Space Aviation Agency hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 15th. Fierce controversy was expected regarding the de facto confirmation of the Gyeongnam Sacheon site following the 'political' decision based on President Yoon Seok-ryeol's election pledge and the preparation of the special bill. Although a recent public opinion poll showed that most space aviation experts chose Daejeon as the optimal location for the Space Agency, there was no mention of this at the hearing, and the atmosphere was rather bland. There was also no discussion on other contentious issues such as the blind trust system for stock ownership or the creation of residential conditions. Concerns were raised by organizations like the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice that the already ineffective blind trust system for stock ownership might be completely nullified, but no objections were raised.

Instead, at the public hearing held at the Science and Technology Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, there were criticisms regarding the division of duties between existing government-funded research institutes and the newly established Space Aviation Agency, as well as the overall status and role allocation.

First, the industry expressed high expectations and hopes for the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency. Lee Jun-won, executive director of the Space Business Division at Hanwha Aerospace, said, "There were many regrets due to the severe shortage of organization and personnel in the existing Ministry of Science and ICT," adding, "Since Korea is at the nascent stage of the space industry and government support is urgently needed, although there may be various opinions, the current government proposal should be passed within this year and the agency must be established."

Kim Ji-hong, director of the Future Technology Institute at Korea Aerospace Industries, also welcomed the development, saying, "I think it is meaningful that the task force was formed after long discussions and has come to the public hearing stage," and added, "I hope the Space Aviation Agency will be effectively supplemented to create a healthy space industry ecosystem and operate smoothly in the industrial field." Kim also suggested, "If a two-way communication channel is established so that good ideas from the industrial field are reflected in policies, it will be much more positive."

On the other hand, panelists representing research institutes urged that the government should provide answers through enforcement ordinances on how the existing space governance system should change amid expectations. Choi Eun-jung, head of the Space Situation Office at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, welcomed the establishment, saying, "There have been many criticisms about the lack of national leadership in space expertise, representation, and integrated coordination in international cooperation, but with the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency, it will be elevated to national leadership, so I hope for smooth sailing." However, Choi pointed out, "The scientific mission to enhance the national brand and status should be a major task of the Space Aviation Agency," and added, "It should be clearly defined through enforcement ordinances whether the comprehensive research institute is the Space Aviation Agency or existing research institutes." Choi Nam-mi, senior researcher at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, argued that the Space Aviation Agency should focus more on fostering the space industry and international cooperation rather than research and development. Choi said, "NASA and space agencies of advanced countries are currently focused on how to lead global space development governance and how to enable their domestic companies to dominate the new space industry, which led to the birth of SpaceX," and urged, "Our Space Aviation Agency should also recruit such experts and reflect the global era situation to fulfill such roles." He also pointed out that the Space Aviation Agency should clearly divide roles with existing research institutes so that the government can handle administrative tasks well while research institutes focus on R&D.

Kim Byung-jin, founder of Satrec Initiative, a leading satellite manufacturer in Korea, emphasized the Space Aviation Agency's coordination and diplomatic capabilities. He said, "Over the past decade, keywords related to the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency have included policy stability, strengthening trust, continuity, and representation in international diplomacy and cooperation, inter-ministerial coordination roles, and an independent R&D control tower," adding, "Although these are included in the bill, it feels insufficient rather than excessive. It is important that people with excellent communication, negotiation, coordination, and language skills work in the Space Aviation Agency." He continued, "I am concerned that employees of the Space Aviation Agency might spend too much time on research and development or industrialization," and urged, "They should spend more energy on negotiations and coordination with foreign countries and cooperation with domestic institutions."

Professor Jung Young-jin of the Korea National Defense University said, "Although the Space Aviation Agency is small in scale, it performs space development in detailed fields similar to NASA, so about 400 personnel are needed," and criticized, "The policy allowing foreign dual nationals easy access and job changes in the civil-military cooperation field should be reconsidered. It is problematic to rely on civilian experts while trying to ensure expertise." He also argued that space security is linked to defense, which may cause legal conflicts and should be removed, and that the National Space Committee should be expanded from the existing six ministries to eleven by including other related ministries.

Choi Won-ho, head of the Space Aviation Agency Establishment Task Force at the Ministry of Science and ICT, representing the government, explained that most inquiries would be supplemented in detail through enforcement ordinances and other detailed laws. Regarding the controversy over hiring fixed-term public officials and introducing the blind trust system for stock ownership, he said, "This is to supplement expertise and to overcome the shortcomings of rotation assignments of existing general public officials to foster expertise," and explained, "It is not allowing 100% stock ownership but exceptionally permitting it with reporting obligations to open the door for recruiting private experts with expertise."

At the site, there were criticisms that fields such as space medicine and space biology were missing and should be supplemented. Concerns were also raised that the aerospace sector might be marginalized as the Aerospace Agency changes to the Space Aviation Agency. Choi explained, "Fields like space medicine will be included through subordinate laws," and added, "I understand the name was changed because space-related work is the focus."

Meanwhile, the government announced the Special Act on the Establishment of the Space Aviation Agency on the 2nd and is collecting public opinions until the 17th. Afterward, it plans to submit the bill to the National Assembly in May along with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's amendment to the Government Organization Act after the Cabinet meeting. The plan is to pass it within the year and open the agency in Sacheon, Gyeongnam. The Ministry of Science and ICT aims to establish a flexible, vice-ministerial-level R&D-focused organization under its jurisdiction by recruiting a large number of private experts with annual salaries in the 200 to 300 million KRW range to create a space-specialized institution befitting one of the world's top seven space powers.