Ruling and Opposition Parties Disagree on 'Including R&D'... Aerospace Agency Opening Within the Year Seems Unlikely

Discussion on Space Aviation Agency Safety Committee Ends Today
Ruling Party "Pass Special Act on Space Aviation Agency in Regular National Assembly"
Opposition "Reconsider Location Issue in Sacheon, Gyeongnam from the Beginning"

The establishment of the Space Aviation Agency in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, which was being promoted, has effectively fallen through this year as the ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences. The ruling party intended to pass the special law for the Space Aviation Agency during this regular session of the National Assembly, but the inclusion of the agency's research and development (R&D) functions became a sticking point, making the agency's opening within the year uncertain.

On the 23rd, Representative Choi Hyung-doo of the People Power Party held a "Discussion for the Early Opening of the Space Aviation Agency" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building together with Gyeongnam Province and Sacheon City. The event was organized to urge the swift passage of the stalled special law for the Space Aviation Agency in the National Assembly and to highlight the necessity and justification for the agency's establishment and prompt opening.

In a written congratulatory message, Park Wan-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, expressed regret that the special law for the Space Aviation Agency was being held up in the National Assembly, stating, "I hope that, with concern for the nation's future, a grand decision will be made without further delay," and called on the Democratic Party for cooperation.

Earlier in the morning, Gyeongnam region lawmakers including People Power Party members Lee Dal-gon, Choi Hyung-doo, Kang Min-guk, and independent lawmaker Ha Young-je also held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, urging the prompt establishment of the Space Aviation Agency. They requested cooperation from the Democratic Party, saying, "Let's pass the Space Aviation Agency Act together and complete the space industry cluster triangular system?comprising the Daejeon R&D specialized zone, Jeonnam launch vehicle specialized zone, and Gyeongnam satellite specialized zone?through the 'establishment of the Space Aviation Agency.'"

They criticized, "The special law agenda coordination committee's expiration date is the 23rd, but the Democratic Party-appointed committee chair issued a press release on the 19th expressing regret that the committee ended without a final agreement and stating that even if the committee ends, it is better to establish the agency for the national space future than to rush without principles. They are playing a delaying game, holding the future of Korea's space hostage."

Last month, the ruling and opposition parties planned to review the special law for the Space Aviation Agency before the Chuseok holiday during the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's agenda coordination committee meeting, but the review was postponed due to lack of consensus. At the fourth agenda coordination committee meeting held on the 5th, some agreements were reached, but the parties remained at an impasse over whether the Space Aviation Agency should conduct R&D. The government and ruling party argue that the agency must be able to conduct R&D directly, whereas the Democratic Party claims this would overlap with existing institutions like the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, advocating for the agency to have only an overarching function. They explain that if the agency conducts R&D projects directly while leaving the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Astronomy Institute outside, it would result in redundant R&D efforts and inefficiency.

On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Seung-rae, chair of the Science and ICT Committee, visited Daejeon City Hall and told reporters, "If the functions of the Space Aviation Agency are not clearly defined, the location must be fundamentally reconsidered." Cho stated, "The committee agreed that the Space Aviation Agency would be an external agency under the Ministry of Science and ICT, capable of planning and designing R&D projects and space missions but not conducting direct R&D. No member raised objections to conditions that would not dismantle the space aviation research cluster centered on the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Astronomy Institute."

He pointed out, "During the process of drafting the agreement text in detail, the ruling party suddenly raised the issue that the Space Aviation Agency must have R&D functions, breaking the agreement. This is an issue we absolutely cannot concede as it would rather undermine Korea's space aviation capabilities."

He also noted, "Since last year, when the space industry cluster was designated excluding Daejeon?which has research and educational functions such as the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the Astronomy Institute, and KAIST?there has been suspicion that there was an attempt to move all aerospace R&D to Sacheon, Gyeongnam, which was a presidential campaign pledge. Fundamentally, the location issue needs to be reconsidered from the beginning."

The agenda coordination committee for the special law on the Space Aviation Agency will conclude its activities today. However, as the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach an agreement by today, the bill is expected to be referred back to the Science and ICT Committee's bill review subcommittee. Since further negotiations between the parties are required in the subcommittee, the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency within the year has become uncertain.