S. Korean Air Force opens space center to bolster space strategy

The center plans to lead the way in deploying weapon systems for space operations, enhancing the Air Force's ability to respond to space threats and risks

ROK Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park In-ho (center) and Col. Park Ki-tae, the first-serving head of the Air Force’s new space center (second from left), pose for a photo along with other top brass from the ROK Air Force Headquarters at the opening ceremony for the new space center in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province on Thursday. (provided by the ROK Air Force)

South Korea’s Air Force held an opening ceremony on Wednesday that marked the beginning of operations at a space center within Air Force headquarters.

The space center, which reports directly to the ROK Air Force Chief of Staff, was established to devise and implement space policy. Another responsibility is to coordinate exchange and cooperation between higher agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other organizations, including the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute, so as to develop Korea’s capabilities in space.

The new center consists of three departments — one dedicated to space policy, one for space weaponry development, and a situation room for space information — which will develop and build out the Air Force’s space strategy and concepts for carrying out space operations.

With space emerging as one of the key battlefields of the future, the space center plans to lead the way in deploying weapon systems for space operations. It also intends to carry out the mission of national space security to respond to space threats and risks by enhancing the Air Force’s space arsenal.

“The Air Force’s space center will focus its capabilities on developing our national defense space force through building space weaponry, training professionals, and strengthening the organization. That will strengthen our national security in space and enable the Air Force to become a space force,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park In-ho at the opening ceremony.

By Kwon Hyuk-chul, senior staff writer

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