Acting President Choi Sang Mok, who is also deputy prime minister for economy and finance, on March 19 speaks at the fourth meeting on national strategy for human resource development at Korea University in Seoul's Seongbuk-gu District. (Ministry of Economy and Finance)

By Charles Audouin

A newly announced government strategy seeks to train 30,000 aerospace professionals by 2045.

The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) on March 19 said this in releasing a plan on human resource development to make the country a top-five space power. This was decided at the fourth meeting on strategies for personnel development chaired by Acting President Choi Sang Mok, who is also deputy prime minister for economy and finance.

Saying human resources are crucial for forming a space industry ecosystem in the new space era of privately led development, KASA urged bold investment in cooperation with relevant ministries to expand the youth base, develop mission-oriented personnel, and train regionally established working-level staff.

To this end, the agency pledged more opportunities for classes and club activities on space and aerospace from elementary to high school, youth education programs such as space camps and KASA internships for college students.

Another plan is to train workers for specific tasks such as launch vehicles and satellites through the adoption of specialized majors and a microdegree certification system in cooperation with public universities in the provinces such as Gyeongsang National, Suncheon National and Changwon National.

Practical training will focus on the specialized demands of each field and an academy will teach working-level personnel for corporate space projects. Work experience opportunities will go to young people interested in aerospace as well as required training to boost the skills of workers in related fields.

Startups will also get the opportunity to conduct experiments and practical training using the combustion laboratory at the Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province, and the large chamber for space environment testing at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. An online platform will be used for human resource training and employment.

Staff training will also be conducted for the launch of an exchange system to boost cooperation with global space agencies and tie-ups with Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

caudouin@korea.kr