Korea wants in on EU’s ‘Galileo’

The Korean government hopes to join a project led by the European Union to construct a new satellite navigation system. At a meeting of science-related ministers in Seoul yesterday, officials announced Korea’s desire to participate in “Galileo,” a multi-billion euro project launched by the bloc’s 25 member states in association with the European Space Agency. The government will officially inform the EU in March or April, with hopes of signing an agreement around July. Beyond the EU, Israel, China and India have already signed on to the project, with talks continuing in several other countries, including Canada and Brazil. If Korea becomes involved, it will contribute at least 5 million euros ($6.6 million) in cash. The Galileo program involves setting up a web of 30 satellites and ground stations in an effort to reduce European dependence on the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS. The Korean government hopes that participating in the geo-positioning project will enhance relationships with the EU on the political, economic and technological levels and provide a larger market for Korean GPS terminal makers. “Korean companies and research institutes will be able to accumulate technology by participating,” a science ministry official said. by Wohn Dong-hee