Hyunjoon Kwon, director general for aerospace policy at the Korea AeroSpace Administration, speaks during an interview with Asia Today on Friday. Photo by Asia Today
June 30 (Asia Today) — South Korea is seeking to connect the growth of its commercial space industry with stronger national security capabilities as emerging technologies blur the boundaries between the private and public sectors.
The expansion of security concerns into space, drones and artificial intelligence has increased the importance of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, which is responsible for developing the country’s aerospace industry.
The agency is working with the National Intelligence Service and other government organizations on satellite cybersecurity and broader aerospace security policies.
Hyunjoon Kwon, director general for aerospace policy at the agency, told Asia Today in an interview Friday that space is no longer solely a scientific field.
“Space has moved beyond science to become a domain that can affect both security and industry,” Kwon said. “We need a mutually reinforcing relationship between the market and the public sector.”
Asked how the global space security environment is changing, Kwon said competition is no longer limited to the number of satellites a country possesses.
“The key question is how reliably a country can use and protect satellite communications and satellite imagery,” he said.
Space-based services have been used directly in military operations and critical national infrastructure since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Kwon said.
Countries also face increasingly complex threats, including GPS jamming and spoofing, disruptions to satellite communications, cyberattacks and the collision or uncontrolled reentry of objects in space.
Kwon said the agency is developing a national space situational awareness system to strengthen South Korea’s ability to monitor and predict space-related risks.
It is also preparing a cybersecurity response framework to protect space-based services used by the private sector, government and military.
South Korea has rapidly accumulated capabilities in launch vehicles, satellite development and satellite data applications, Kwon said. Its military space capabilities have also expanded.
However, the country still needs to strengthen its domestic production of critical materials, components and software, he said.
Other areas requiring improvement include space situational awareness, satellite cybersecurity and the creation of a sustainable commercial market for space services.
“That is why the growth of private space companies and greater independence in core technologies are becoming even more important,” Kwon said.
Cooperation among the private sector, government and military has entered a stage of institutional development since the establishment of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, he said.
The cooperative channels include a future defense science and technology policy council with the Defense Ministry, an aerospace project memorandum with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and a satellite cybersecurity consultative body with the National Intelligence Service.
Kwon said the cooperation now extends beyond individual projects to include policy, technology and security.
The agency is seeking to create a structure in which private-sector technology is connected to government and national security requirements, while public and defense demand supports the growth of commercial companies.
Kwon also discussed the government’s recently announced strategy to foster innovative companies in emerging security industries.
“Aerospace is a strategic field that influences both security and industry, extending beyond the boundaries of science and technology,” he said.
Satellite communications, satellite data, unmanned aircraft and space materials and components have significant commercial growth potential while also meeting direct security needs, Kwon said.
The agency plans to focus on establishing a cycle in which the creation of new industries strengthens national security capabilities and security demand encourages further technological innovation.
The plans include developing core technologies for a space data center under the K-Moonshot initiative and building a national platform that will make satellite information available for broader use.
The agency also plans to develop artificial intelligence-powered unmanned aircraft and electric or hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260629010010198