열린장관실

Opening Remarks by H.E. Park Jin

Minister of Foreign Affairs 

Republic of Korea

ROK-US Space Forum 

Good morning everyone.

I am Park Jin, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. 

As a strong believer in connecting 

diplomacy and science, 

I couldn’t be happier to kick off the first ever 

ROK-US Space Forum this morning.

I wish to start by acknowledging His Excellency, 

Ambassador Philip Goldberg;

Mr. Chirag Parikh, 

Executive Secretary of the US National Space Council. 

The fact that this is Mr. Parikh’s second visit to Korea this year alone, speaks volumes about our readiness to work together on space. 

The Honorable 이상민, Member of the National Assembly of Korea - a tireless champion of science and diplomacy; 

Dr. 이태식, President of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies.

I also want to welcome the many policymakers, experts, uniformed servicemembers 

and industry representatives 

that have joined us from the US and here in Korea. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we gather to mark a truly historic milestone in the shared journey between Korea and the United States.

And what better moment to embark on a new frontier - outer space – than on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance?

To commemorate this platinum anniversary, President Yoon Suk Yeol paid a historic state visit 

to the US in April.

During the visit, President Yoon and President Biden announced that “ the ROK-US alliance also applies to space. ” 

President Yoon also visited NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center with Vice President Harris. 

Our Leaders pledged to consolidate the alliance across all sectors through multiple channels of space cooperation. 

This commitment exemplifies one of the key reasons why the ROK-US alliance has stood the test of time.

It is among history’s most robust and successful alliances because of our determination to adapt and evolve.  

Having started as a military alliance with the signing of the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty in 1953, when the war ended, our Alliance has continued to expand its horizons over the last seven decades.

Today, our partnership has become a “Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance.” 

Our Alliance is ‘global’ because our collaborative reach is no longer confined to the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

It spans the Indo-Pacific and beyond - even to outer space.

It is ‘comprehensive’ because the contours of our partnership cover not only military security.

They also encompass economic security, cutting-edge science and technology – including space projects 

- as well as people-to-people exchanges. 

It is ‘strategic’ because we share a commitment to safeguarding a rules-based international order that favors freedom, human rights and the rule of law 

- including norms of responsible behaviors in space.

So space is where the global, comprehensive and strategic dimensions of our partnership converge. 

And building a space alliance literally represents the moonshot of our alliance.

Interestingly, our aspirations in space have long been intertwined somehow. 

Neil Armstrong, who was the first human to land on the moon, had once served as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. 

He nearly perished defending democracy and freedom on this Peninsula.

Thankfully he did not, and went on to become 

the first astronaut on the moon. 

On June 25, 1950, President Harry Truman met with top advisors to discuss how to respond to North Korea’s naked aggression against South Korea. 

Undersecretary of State James Webb, who later became NASA Administrator, sat there with President Truman at Blair House. 

Today, humanity marvels at the mind-blowing images of the universe 

taken from the James Webb telescope 

1.5 million kilometers away from earth. 

In recent decades, Korea’s space development 

has collaborated closely with American institutions. 

Korea is one of the 7 countries in the world 

capable of launching large satellites with its own propulsion systems and launch vehicles.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of visiting NASA Headquarters, becoming the first Korean Foreign Minister to do so. 

During my meeting with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who was the second sitting Member of the US Congress to travel to space, 

we discussed space cooperation, including through the Artemis Accords 

– a framework for collaborating nations’ safe exploration of the moon and beyond. 

For example, the Korea Lunar Orbiter, Danuri(다누리), which has been orbiting around the moon for almost a year, is carrying six scientific instruments.

One of them is NASA’s hypersensitive optical camera, ShadowCam.

ShadowCam acquires high-resolution images 

of permanently shadowed parts of the moon.

This provides invaluable data to support future lunar exploration efforts, including the Artemis. 

Danuri is an example of how Korea and the US are collaborating to help achieve the goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon. 

We are also working together with other like-minded countries engaged in the Artemis Accords.

At the Camp David Trilateral Korea-US-Japan Summit, our three leaders agreed on enhanced trilateral dialogue on space security cooperation. 

This Wednesday, delegates from our three countries will hold the trilateral Space Security Dialogue.

Some of you will be there to discuss way to promote safe, secure and sustainable use of outer space and enhance the resilience of space systems.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The space ecosystem is undergoing fundamental changes as more countries, commercial entities and individuals aspire to go beyond earth’s atmosphere. 

In tandem, the range and sheer volume of space activities are expanding.

They include scientific research, satellite deployments, space tourism and others. 

The New Space Era offers the promise of an inspiring future of human potential in outer space.

To unleash that potential, 

President Yoon is leading the drive 

to transform Korea’s space industry.

Under the 2022 Future Space Economy Roadmap, 

Korea will make significant investments in cutting-edge technology and encourage private sector engagement.

To that end, Korea will build international partnerships on key space technologies. 

The ROK-US space alliance will be cornerstone of this international partnership.

At the same time, the New Space Era also brings with it a web of challenges that no single country or entity can tackle alone.

Already, nearly forty thousand space debris pose serious collision risks to our critical space infrastructure.

Competition for orbital paths and the risks of technologies being misused are growing. 

Space is becoming increasingly militarized and weaponized.

All of these are turning space into 

a giant geopolitical chessboard.

Accommodating the interests and priorities of various stakeholders to ensure a safe, secure and sustainable outer space is a complex task. 

The need for enhanced space diplomacy 

and international space governance has therefore never been greater.

Through the ROK-US alliance, we are fully committed to ensuring a safe, secure and sustainable space environment for the benefit of all.

Based on our shared values, 

our two countries can strengthen cooperation 

on the multilateral stage to establish norms, rules and principles for responsible space behavior.

Furthermore, our space partnership has the potential to advance sustainable development by facilitating action on climate and the digital divide. 

No less important is bilateral policy coordination, which will not only be mutually beneficial 

but contribute to the security and economic development of the Indo-Pacific area. 

Distinguished Guests, 

The ROK-US alliance is not just an emblem of our past achievements.

It is the lodestar of our shared future 

in the next frontier. 

By combining our technological prowess and diplomatic heft, we can shape a future for a peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous space. 

As a country aspiring to become a Global Pivotal State – or GPS in short – 

Korea stands ready to pull its weight. 

I’m confident that this inaugural Forum 

will mark no small step in our alliance’s journey 

for the next 70 years, 

towards the Moon, Mars and beyond. 

Thank you. 

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