Why can’t the space agency lift off?

The plan to create a NASA-like Korean aerospace administration by the end of the year is being stalemated due to political wrangling. The government has already established a task force and submitted a bill to establish the space agency by March. But the bill is still stuck in the subcommittee of the standing committee on science and ICT led by the majority opposition Democratic Party (DP).

The subcommittee has been discussing the matter with hopes to come to a conclusion within three months, but it failed to do so by last month. The government wants to place the agency under the Ministry of Science and ICT, while the DP demands it should go under the presidential office.

The rivaling parities also fought over whether to place the research and development function under the new agency. The government compromised on some of the DP’s proposals. But the bill nevertheless has failed to move onto the next stage of lawmaking. It may not be passed within this year’s assembly session that ends on Dec. 9. Then, the bill will most likely be pushed aside for some time as the legislature will be engrossed with the next parliamentary elections in April.

The private sector has issued a statement demanding the legislature pay attention to the bill. The Korea Aerospace Industries Association and the Korea Association of Space Technology Promotion pleaded that the space vision that gives hope to the future must not be victimized by political and regional conflicts. It urged speedy legislation so as not to lose time to catch up with other countries, as most of the key differences over the status of the new agency, R&D function and others have been cleared.

In other countries, the private sector has joined the New Space race. Space rockets of SpaceX and Amazon are flying to the Moon and Mars. Following a Japanese startup’s attempt to land its lunar lander, Japan is joining a project to clean up space debris. Starlink — a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX — has proven its effectiveness in the Ukraine war. The satellite service will soon be available in Korea.

Space is not restricted to big players. Luxembourg, with a population of just 620,000, backs private companies to mine minerals in space. If the space offered curiosity and wonder to mankind in the 20th century, it generates a sprawl of new industries in the 21st century.

The rivaling parties disputing over where to locate the new agency are only interested in winning the upcoming general election. Currently, Sacheon of South Gyeongsang and Daejon are bidding to host the space agency. Politicians must consider what location can best bolster the competitiveness of our space industry instead of vote counts. There is no time to lose.