Amid questions over the expertise of Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) President Lee Sang-cheol, former presidents of the Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences voiced support, saying Lee is an expert who has led the development of the space industry.
The society is the nation's largest academic body in the aerospace field, founded in 1967.
The former presidents issued a statement on the 28th, saying that during a recent National Assembly audit, concerns were raised about the expertise of Lee Sang-cheol, the 36th president of the society and now KARI chief, and noted they express deep concern as a community of experts who have devoted themselves to the development of the national aerospace industry.
They said the controversy is no different from denying the expertise of past presidents and aerospace experts as a whole, given that the top expert of the time has been elected president.
They added that such remarks damage the honor of the society and, further, are highly inappropriate as they could shake the foundation of the nation's aerospace technology development.
The former presidents stressed that Lee has devoted more than 30 years to research and education on the front lines of the aerospace industry. Lee took part in major projects in Korea's aerospace industry, including the development of the "Arirang-1 satellite" and the "T-50 advanced trainer," and has served as a professor at Korea Aerospace University since 2006, holding posts including head of the industry-academia cooperation group, director of research cooperation, and graduate school dean.
They said that having experienced the entire spectrum of industry, academia, and research, Lee is a suitable figure to lead KARI's vision and role in the era of the space economy, and added that Lee's experience and insight are a key asset that will lead the future of Korea's aerospace industry.
They also said that as Korea's aerospace industry stands at an inflection point for a new leap forward, it is not desirable to disparage an individual's expertise without basis or to damage the honor of the entire academic community, and urged that all remarks be subject to objective fact-checking and that words and actions that harm the society's honor be refrained from.
Finally, they said they trust Lee's leadership and expertise and will unite the academic community so that the achievements Lee has built can lead to advances in the national aerospace sector.
Sixteen people added their names to the statement, including former KARI chiefs Kim Seung-jo and Lim Cheol-ho and former Agency for Defense Development (ADD) Director An Dong-man.