The competition rate for executive-level staff selection at the Korean-style “NASA,” the Space Aviation Agency, set to open on the 27th of next month, also recorded double digits.
The scene of the Space Aviation Agency recruitment briefing held at the Seoul Science and Technology Center on March 19. Photo by Baek Jongmin
On the 16th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that 212 applicants had applied for the executive-level recruitment demand survey, which includes positions such as headquarters chief, division head, and program director, with the application deadline closing at 5 p.m. the previous day. For the demand survey targeting foreign nationals (including dual nationals) below senior researcher level, 28 people applied.
This follows the competition rate exceeding 16:1 for the general term-limited public official career competitive recruitment exams for grades 5, 6, and 7, indicating significant interest in executive-level recruitment as well. However, it has not yet been confirmed how many highly qualified candidates applied for the key executive positions.
The applicants’ professional backgrounds were as follows: industry 37.5%, research 27.5%, public officials/military 17.5%, academia 13.8%, and others 3.7%. By degree, 51.2% held doctorates, 29.2% master’s degrees, 18.8% bachelor’s degrees, and 0.8% other qualifications. By nationality, 84.2% were domestic nationals and 15.8% were foreigners.
Executive-level and foreign recruitment will be conducted on an ongoing basis through demand surveys. The Ministry of Science and ICT has recognized the need to hire foreign nationals or dual nationals with experience at NASA or similar organizations due to the nature of the space sector. Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT has also mentioned that foreigners, including dual nationals, will be hired if necessary.
The key executive positions to be filled through the demand survey include the Grade 1 Mission Headquarters Chief (1 person) at the top, followed by Grade 2 positions such as Head of Space Transportation Division, Head of Satellite Division, Head of Space Science Exploration Division, and Head of Aviation Innovation Division. The Mission Support Director is Grade 3, and six program directors by division are Grade 4 positions. However, if no suitable candidate is found, the position will not be filled.
The government has set exceptional salaries for executives at the Space Aviation Agency. The headquarters chief receives 250 million KRW, equivalent to the presidential level, and division heads receive 140 million KRW, equivalent to vice minister level. The Grade 3 Mission Support Director earns between 120 million and 140 million KRW, and Grade 4 program directors earn between 110 million and 130 million KRW. Salaries for senior researchers (Grade 5) and researchers (Grades 6 and 7) are set at levels comparable to general term-limited public officials. The Grade 6 annual salary can reach up to 100 million KRW. Compensation for these positions may be set higher than the stated levels if deemed necessary by the head of the Space Aviation Agency.
Contract periods for program directors at Grade 4 and above are basically three years, with extensions possible up to ten years. For Grade 5 and below, the basic contract is five years, extendable up to ten years.
The Ministry of Science and ICT’s Space Aviation Agency Establishment Promotion Team plans to appoint executive-level public officials and foreign applicants through interviews scheduled for June, following document screening. This means they will be deployed to their duties after the agency’s opening. Domestic general term-limited public official recruitment applicants have been shortlisted to three times the number of positions after document screening and are preparing for interviews on the 18th and 19th. The final successful candidates will be announced on the 10th of next month.
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