Rep. Hong Moon-jong, Saenuri Party floor leader, hosted a symposium marking the first anniversary of the successful launch of the Naro, a rocket developed to launch the first earth-orbiting satellite from Korea, at the National Library auditorium on Feb. 12.
Among the roughly 300 people on hand at the symposium were Minister Choi Mun-kee of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP).
Cho Kwang-rae, researcher at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), who played leading roles in the development of Korea’s first carrier rocket, spoke on the issues raised during the development of the Naro.
Among the members of a panel on the direction of the development of Korea’s own space launch vehicle, chaired by Prof. Lee Jong-myung of Myungji University, were Koh Suh-gon, director in charge of space policy at the MSIP; President Paek Hong-ryeol of the Agency for Defense Develo-pment; Prof. Tak Min-jae of KAIST; and Prof. Kim Kyung-min of Hanyang University.
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Minister Choi Mun-kee of the Ministry of Science, ICT and
Future Planning (MSIP), give a speech at a symposium marking
the first anniversary of the successful launch of the Naro at the
National Library auditorium on Feb. 12.
Rep. Hong, in his opening speech, said, “Space powers have been strengthening their capability to develop and operate space launch vehicles on their own, which are essential means of space development, to expand their space development activities. Space launch vehicle technologies are core technologies from the aspect of security strategies the countries are struggling to secure by funneling huge budgets into them. In this regard, the successful launch of the Naro takes on a new significance in that it is the first step in the nation’s efforts to develop and operate space launch vehicles on its own, which will emerge as the foundation for space development and core technologies of national security strategies.”
He expressed the hope the symposium was not only an event to celebrate the first anniversary of the successful launch of the Naro, but also an opportunity to discuss the direction of how to develop Korea’s own space launch vehicles, essential for its self-sufficient space development.
National Assembly Speaker Kang Chang-hee, in his congratulatory speech, said Korea, despite the fact that the Korean economy is now trapped in a low growth mode, has become one of the nations that has successfully made strides over the past half century, and the driving force behind the national development can be attributable to the contribution of the Korean science and technology communities. Now that the nation’s past strong points have now been exhausted, he noted that the science and technology circles’ innovation would make new breakthroughs, particularly with high expectations in the space field with its unlimited potential.
Vice Speaker Lee Byung-suk, in his congratulatory speech, said the shinkijeon, developed during the reign of King Sejong in 1448, was an ancient Korean version of a modern multiple stage rocket launcher, and now, 565 years after the development of the shinkijeon, Korea has successfully made a third launch of a Korean Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV), known as the Naro, on Jan. 30, 2013. He went on to say that space development is an investment into future markets, a driving force behind national security and power, and a new growth engine to open the nation’s future.
MSIP Minister Choi, in his congratulatory speech, said with support the Korean space industry, whose value now stands at 800 billion won yearly, is projected to grow into a 2.8 trillion won industry by 2017, becoming a key industry for the realization of the creative economy and the creation of good jobs.
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