"Delay in Establishment of Space Aviation Agency, Unable to Narrow Gap with Advanced Countries"

Korea Aerospace Industries Promotion Association and Korea Space Technology Promotion Association Urge Prompt Passage of Special Act for Space and Aviation Agency

The Korea Aerospace Industry Promotion Association (Chairman Kang Gu-young, hereinafter referred to as the Aerospace Association) and the Korea Space Technology Promotion Association (Chairman Son Jae-il, hereinafter referred to as the Space Technology Association), whose members include major domestic aerospace-related companies, jointly issued an appeal on the 1st for the prompt passage of the "Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Space and Aviation Administration (hereinafter referred to as the Space Aviation Administration Special Act)" in the National Assembly.

Both associations emphasized that "the aerospace industry, which is the dream and hope of future generations of the Republic of Korea, should no longer be a subject of partisan and regional political disputes," and stated, "Since many contentious issues surrounding the establishment, such as the status of the Space Aviation Administration, whether to directly conduct research and development (R&D), and the question of making it a direct agency, have been resolved, the Space Aviation Administration, which oversees Korea's aerospace sector, must be established as soon as possible before the gap with the world widens further."

Both associations pointed out that currently, Korea lacks a dedicated organization overseeing the aerospace sector, resulting in various ministries sharing functions and performing tasks accordingly. This has revealed limitations in areas such as policy formulation and budget execution, research and development, international cooperation, and industrial promotion. They argued that at this critical time when efforts should be united to achieve the goal of becoming a leading aerospace industry powerhouse, the delay in the passage and launch of the Space Aviation Administration Special Act is preventing Korea from narrowing the gap with advanced countries.

The government aimed to open the Space Aviation Administration within this year, but the bill is still stuck in the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, and has not even passed the threshold of the standing committee due to the failure to reach agreement in the agenda coordination committee. Both associations plan to deliver the appeal, reflecting the industry's strong desire for the prompt passage of the Space Aviation Administration Special Act, to the National Assembly.