South Korea space chief plans more Nuri launches

April 8 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's space agency chief said Wednesday he plans to overhaul the organization and increase the frequency of Nuri rocket launches as part of efforts to strengthen the country's space capabilities.

Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea Aerospace Administration, said the agency is working to improve efficiency and internal coordination following criticism over organizational issues.

"We are considering ways to streamline the organization so it can better fulfill its founding purpose," Oh said at a press briefing in Seoul.

Oh, who took office in February, said his priority is stabilizing the agency and improving personnel management after identifying structural and operational challenges during his first two months in the role.

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He emphasized that people are central to the agency's strategy, noting that each employee represents both its present and future as global competition in the space sector intensifies.

The agency has faced internal challenges, including concerns over weak coordination between departments and the earlier departure of a senior mission chief before completing his term.

To address these issues, the administration reorganized its aerospace mission headquarters last month, clarifying program roles across four key sectors: space transportation, satellites, space science exploration and aviation innovation.

It also launched an advisory committee to gather input from industry, academia and research institutions on a monthly basis.

Oh said the agency will focus on upgrading domestic space infrastructure, including the Naro Space Center, which is currently undergoing a preliminary feasibility review for expansion. Plans are also underway to develop a second space center to support reusable launch vehicles by 2035.

The agency aims to conduct at least one Nuri rocket launch annually through 2032 to build operational experience and reliability, while working to increase launches to more than two per year by identifying additional domestic and international demand.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260408010002551