How are you?
I'm Son Jae-il, the chairman of the Korea Association for Space Technology Promotion. It is a great honor for me personally to serve as the president of the Korea Space Technology Promotion Association, which is the spearhead of the national space industry development, and I feel a great sense of responsibility and infinite appreciation. In addition, we will do our best to contribute to the development of the national economy and the welfare and safety of the people by promoting the domestic space industry.

Space technology is already being used in various ways in our daily lives. Weather forecasting without satellites is now inconceivable to us. Even natural disasters that humanity suffers from can minimize the damage through advance information through satellites. Satellites also monitor carbon gas in the atmosphere to monitor global warming. In addition, it is approaching everywhere in our lives without having to talk about navigation using satellite GPS and satellite broadcasting. Now, space technology has become a growth engine that will open up the future of mankind and a technology that is essential for the survival of mankind. The universe is a space of infinite possibilities open to all.

Our country is late to enter the space industry. However, achievements in many industries, including automobiles, shipbuilding, electronics, semiconductors, and heavy chemicals, can be incorporated into the space industry. If we take advantage of these conditions, we can sublimate the late start-up into an advantage, not a disadvantage, so the space industry can clearly be the next industrial driving force for our country. Our association was established with the aim of securing international competitiveness in the space industry by strengthening basic space research and developing core space technologies essential for securing independent space development capabilities.

In the meantime, Korea has been promoting the development of advanced countries' pursuit-type technology, but more systematic and long-term plans are needed to become independent of space technology. Our association will reflect environmental changes at home and abroad and present the industry's space development plans and visions to the government according to selection and concentration. We ask that you make efforts together to promote domestic and international investment through the establishment of a close cooperative system and active participation between member companies. I firmly believe that these efforts will ultimately serve as a turning point in enhancing the national status and contributing to the development of the national economy by strengthening the ability of independent space development. I think this is the purpose of the mid- to long-term space development plan, which the government has announced its vision for the national space development project. I am sure that if the space industry grows steadily with the establishment of the association, large companies will have the opportunity to create new business opportunities, and small and medium-sized enterprises will have the opportunity to grow into small and medium-sized enterprises that are key strategic industries that will lead the national economy in the future and one of the pillars of high value-added industries.

We ask for your continued interest and support for the development of the association in the future. Thank you.

Chairman of KASP,Son jae il