South Korea to Go into Space

May 30, 2007 (LPAC)--South Korea, already a leader in civilian nuclear energy technology, announced plans to build its own multi-stage rockets and satellites, including probes to the Moon and planets.

South Korea will join international space exploration programs, and plans to launch its first rocket to put a satellite into orbit in late 2008. At a public meeting on May 28, the Ministry of Science and Technology said it plans to spend 3.8 trillion won ($4.1 billion) over the next ten years on the project, and wants to train and hire 3,600 specialists in space technology.

Ministry spokesman Jeong Hae-yang described space exploration as "an investment for the future."