The article was originally published by Chosun Ilbo and translated by OKN Correspondent.
South Korea has reached the milestone of becoming the seventh country in the world to launch homegrown satellites with the successful launch of the Nuri space rocket on the 21st. President Yoon said on the same day, “this is a product of the 30-year-long challenges in the past.” “The dream and hope of our people, especially our young generation will be advanced into space,” he said.
At 4:00 PM, President Yoon watched the launch of the Nuri at the video conference room in the President’s Office in Yongsan, along with his advisors, including Minister of Science, Technology, Information, and Communication, Jong-ho Lee. He left the room when it was confirmed that the third-stage engine was separated and the rocket reached the target orbit at about 4:13 PM. President Yoon came back 30 minutes later at 4:47 PM and received a report from Minister Lee that “the second launch of Nuri was successful.”
Upon hearing Minister Lee’s report, President Yoon drew applause, saying, “let’s all clap together,” to his advisors. He also raised his thumbs towards the screen during the on-site connection with the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.
“I applaud your hard work on behalf of the people. Thank you so much, and let’s all do our best to develop our country into a world-leading country in space programs, where the aerospace industry is the cream of the crop,” he said.
Jung-hwan Koh, head of KSLV-꠱ R&D Directorate at Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), responded, “we will apply ourselves to research and development that the Republic of Korea can leap as one of the seven major space powers.”
President Yoon also said, “the government will establish the Aerospace Administration to support the aerospace industry systematically as it was one of my pledges.”
The President’s Office explained, “instead of President Yoon visiting Goheung and watching the launch of Nuri, we decided to give support from Yongsan and be considerate of the researchers so that they can focus on the launch.”
