One year since the Korea AeroSpace Administration opened its doors. Yet when asked about its achievements so far, the only answer that comes back is that it "made plans." It launched with ambition, touting itself at the outset as a "global-level space agency," but amid personnel confusion and a lack of policy priorities, even the agency's reason for being is being shaken.
A representative example is the early departure of Deputy Minister John Lee, considered a key talent. Lee was appointed in Apr. last year, one month before the launch of the Korea AeroSpace Administration. He drew attention as a global talent with private space development experience and made headlines as he received treatment comparable to the president's salary (about 250 million won). But he abruptly offered to resign last month, not even halfway through his three-year term.
In a statement sent to the media, Lee said, "From the time I came to the space agency, I had considered working for about a year, and I offered to resign because I thought I had achieved the goals I had personally planned." However, it turned out that even Administrator Yun Young-bin of the Korea AeroSpace Administration learned late about this "one-year work plan." On the 16th, at the National Assembly's Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee audit, Administrator Yun answered a question from Rep. Cho In-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea by saying, "I first learned of the plan to work for only one year when he expressed his intention to resign."
Lee's appointment agreement listed as key goals the establishment of standard procedures for space and aviation policy and development, the creation of a systems engineering manual, and the establishment of a long-term (10-year) space and aviation mission plan. But criticism has emerged that "it is absurd that the goals given to a fixed-term public official earning a president-level salary are stuck at the level of 'making standards' or 'producing a manual.'" Rep. Cho said, "It's unclear what was achieved during half the term," adding, "I have to ask whether this did not raise concerns as the head of the institution."
The Korea AeroSpace Administration is suffering not only from poor personnel management but also from a structural talent shortage. At the audit, Administrator Yun acknowledged Rep. Lee Hoon-gi of the Democratic Party of Korea's point that "the starting salary for new hires with doctorates is 55.79 million won, which is lower than Samsung Electronics' starting salary for college graduates (56 million won)," saying, "That's correct." When asked a follow-up question, "Is there no way to improve this?" he answered, "No."
There are just under 300 civil servants affiliated with the space agency at present. Administrator Yun explained, "At least in the policy planning institutional sector, professional civil servants account for half, and they are responsible for key tasks such as reusable launch vehicle development." But on the ground, complaints are erupting that "even though R&D functions from existing research institutes were brought in, the organizational system itself has not properly taken root, so it is not fulfilling its role as an executing agency."
Progress on core projects is also slow. After the specific evaluation to convert the next-generation launch vehicle into a reusable launch vehicle fell through, the Ministry of Economy and Finance's adequacy re-review has also not been completed since May. People involved say, "Most of the Korea AeroSpace Administration's core projects remain at the planning stage," and point out that "it is only rolling out plans while actual implementation is being delayed."
Lee Jun-won, executive vice president at Hanwha Aerospace, said, "Projects have been idling for more than a year, so there is no work," adding, "They need to start quickly." Regarding the Nuri rocket program, he also said, "A seventh launch is necessary," and "We expected a stable national program, but some companies are giving up."
The location issue is also hampering progress. The space agency is located in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, but it is far from both the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in Daejeon and the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, with which it must work closely. Critics say inefficiencies are high, with a lack of flights and transport infrastructure forcing overnight, two-day business trips for a single visit.
Experts cite "a lack of budget" as a structural limitation of the space agency. This year's Korea AeroSpace Administration budget is about 965 billion won, not even reaching 1 trillion won. It is insufficient to cover every field. Nevertheless, criticism is mounting that the agency is laying out various plans without clearly setting priorities for its projects.
Members of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee said in unison that "a sweeping review of the space agency is necessary." Rep. Lee said, "Now, one year after its launch, is precisely the time to fundamentally reexamine the future of the Korea AeroSpace Administration." Rep. Cho pointed out, "About half of the agency's employees drew up appointment agreements, and we need to check whether the contracts were properly executed."
Administrator Yun said, "Over the past year, we have secured excellent talent, and based on the roadmap they have drawn up, we believe we will be able to achieve our goals in 10 or 20 years."