Ministry of Science and ICT Attempts to Establish Relations with NASA After Space Agency Independence

Lee Chang-yoon, 1st Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Meets with Pam Melroy, NASA Deputy Administrator, during Visit to Korea

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that Lee Chang-yoon, the 1st Vice Minister, met with Pam Melroy, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on the 16th to discuss cooperation measures between the two organizations. Although the space sector has become independent under the Space Administration, an external agency, this is interpreted as the Ministry of Science and ICT's intention to newly establish a cooperative relationship with NASA at the ministry level.

Lee Chang-yoon, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, is taking a commemorative photo with Pam Melroy, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on the morning of the 16th at the National Science and Technology Advisory Council conference room in the Gwanghwamun Kyobo Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

Vice Minister Lee introduced to Deputy Administrator Melroy that the Korean government is aiming for a lunar landing in 2032 and reaching Mars in 2045, and that in 2025, it will exceed 1 trillion won in space research and development (R&D) budget for the first time, thereby intensifying investments to realize the space economy. He also shared opinions on various fields where long-term cooperation with NASA is possible, mentioning the current status of R&D promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT in areas such as materials, nuclear power, and polar regions, which can be utilized or linked with space research during the space development process.

Vice Minister Lee stated, “Space can be integrated with various scientific fields and mutually developed in the process,” and added, “We will continue to maintain a cooperative relationship with NASA under a coordination system with the Korea Space Administration.”

The Ministry of Science and ICT and NASA have strengthened cooperation in space exploration, science, and the space industry following the 2023 Korea-U.S. summit, communicating through the signing of the ‘Joint Statement on Cooperation in Space Exploration and Science’ and high-level meetings. However, with the opening of the Space Administration in May, a new relationship needed to be established.

An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT explained, "Although it is not the responsibility of the Space Administration, we plan to promote cooperation in basic research fields conducted by NASA."