Cho Seong-gyeong, 1st Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Discusses Space Cooperation with NASA and National Space Council
Meeting Held to Attract Korean Talent
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 29th that First Vice Minister Cho Seong-gyeong visited NASA, the U.S. National Space Council (NSpC), and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from the 23rd to 24th (local time) to discuss cooperation. With the establishment of the Space Aviation Agency, the government has also begun full-scale efforts to attract overseas talent.
Cho Sung-kyung, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, is taking a commemorative photo with Korean engineers after a meeting at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the United States on the 24th. Photo by the Ministry of Science and ICT
On the 23rd, Vice Minister Cho and NASA Deputy Director Pam Melroy held a meeting to identify research cooperation items related to the U.S. Artemis lunar exploration collaboration and agreed to continue discussions. Both sides agreed to apply Korea's strengths in mobility, secondary batteries, 5th generation mobile communication (5G), autonomous driving, and nuclear technology to space exploration, and to consider lunar rovers and lunar communication network construction as long-term cooperation plans.
During a meeting with Sirak Farik, Secretary-General of the U.S. White House Space Council, Vice Minister Cho explained the role of the Space Aviation Agency and its relationship with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
On the 24th, Vice Minister Cho visited JPL and explained the operational direction and salaries of the Space Aviation Agency to about 20 Korean scientists, gathering their opinions. The attendees reportedly offered various suggestions regarding the attraction of outstanding talent. JPL is a NASA-affiliated research institute that develops unmanned exploratory spacecraft.
According to the special law, the Space Aviation Agency allows employment not only for foreigners but also for dual nationals. The government plans to make every effort to secure talent by offering exceptional salaries and significantly relaxing provisions that hinder employment to attract outstanding personnel.
Earlier, on the 19th (local time), Vice Minister Cho visited the European Space Agency (ESA) in Paris, France, to discuss plans for promoting space cooperation with the Space Aviation Agency.
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