"We will expand Nuri rocket launches to at least four times annually and shift the manufacturing and operation system to a private sector-centered model."
Oh Tae-seok, Administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), made the remarks at his first press briefing in Seoul on Wednesday since taking office. "When we launch three times a year, the manufacturing process begins to change, and at four times, procedures and timelines become completely different," Oh said. "Increasing launch frequency itself is the core driver for transitioning to a private sector-centered system."
Oh is a career science and technology administrator who joined the government after passing the civil service examination in 1991. He served in various positions including first vice minister at the Ministry of Science and ICT and previously led national R&D strategy planning and budget allocation as president of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP). Notably, during his tenure as first vice minister, he chaired the Nuri Launch Management Committee and successfully oversaw the rocket's second and third launches.
Drawing on his administrative experience, Oh moved quickly to streamline operations after taking office. He first clarified that "KASA is an administrative organization that does not conduct research and development directly." The agency operates primarily through its Space and Aviation Mission Headquarters, where approximately 80 percent of staff hold master's or doctoral degrees. While positioning itself as an expert-driven organization focused on R&D policy planning, this structure has caused internal and external conflicts as specialists were assigned to administrative duties since the agency's launch. John Lee, a former NASA official who served as Mission Headquarters director, resigned before completing his term for the same reason.
"Education was needed on how national administration works and how laws are enacted, but that process was missing," Oh said. "We will improve operations to maintain space and aviation expertise, which was the original intent, while running efficiently as an administrative agency." Last month, he launched an Organizational Innovation Advisory Committee and established a task force to create channels for gathering internal and external input.
KASA also plans to tackle its backlog of tasks. The goal is to launch the Nuri rocket at least once annually from 2029 to 2032 to build reliability and operational experience, then expand to at least twice annually by developing domestic and international demand. The agency is reviewing an exemption from preliminary feasibility studies to secure funding. "If the exemption is approved, it can be reflected in the 2027 budget, which would allow contractors to prepare manufacturing capacity for 2029 in advance," Oh explained.
