Yoon lauds success of Nuri's launch as 'splendid feat'

Politics

Published: 26 May. 2023, 11:45

Yoon lauds success of Nuri's launch as 'splendid feat'

President Yoon Suk Yeol gestures as he holds a video call with researchers at Naro Space Center, in Goheung, South Jeolla, after watching a broadcast of space rocket Nuri's launch from the presidential office in Seoul on Thursday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol praised the successful launch of the domestically developed space rocket Nuri on Thursday, saying it is a "splendid feat" that elevates Korea's status among the Group of Seven space powers.

Yoon made the remark in a statement issued shortly after the government confirmed the launch's success.

"The success of Nuri's third launch is a splendid feat that declares Korea has entered into the G-7 space powers," he said, noting that only the United States, France, Japan, Russia, China and India have succeeded in putting a homegrown satellite into orbit on a homegrown rocket.

"The world's perspective on the Republic of Korea's space science and technology and its cutting-edge industry will change greatly," he said, referring to Korea by its formal name.

Yoon also said the third launch represents a major step forward from the previous launch, as it placed eight practical satellites into orbit, not one dummy satellite and congratulated the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Hanwha Aerospace, Korea Aerospace Industries, researchers and technicians on their hard work.

Yoon was at the presidential office when the launch took place.

He visited a room in the presidential office building where presidential staff had gathered to watch a broadcast of the launch and held a video call with Science Minister Lee Jong-ho, who was at Naro Space Center, immediately after its successful liftoff, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.

Yoon was briefed on the results and celebrated the launch's success together with his staff, Lee said.

Yoon also had dinner with his aides to mark the launch's success.

In a social media post uploaded after the launch, he quoted former U.S. President John F. Kennedy's famous Moon Shot speech in 1962, in which he said, "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Yoon added in the post, "The fact that they are difficult makes them our challenge and dream."

"We have confirmed that dreams can turn into a reality today, and the sweat, the passion and the unceasing spirit of challenge turned the dream into a reality," he said.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO, YONHAP [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]