National Space Law and Policy in the Republic of Korea

Youngshin Ahn, J.S.D. (2023), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is an attorney at Hanwha Aerospace. She has published articles on South Korea’s space endeavors, including "Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships in the Space Industry of the Republic of Korea" (The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy, 2023).

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsList of Figures and TablesList of Abbreviations and AcronymsIntroduction1 Korea’s Participation in International Space Law1 A Party to the UN Space Treaties1.1 The Outer Space Treaty1.2 The Rescue Agreement1.3 The Liability Convention1.4 The Registration Convention2 A Party to Other Space-Related Treaties2.1 The itu Constitution and Convention2.2 The intelsat / itso Agreement2.3 The inmarsat / imso Convention2.4 The gatt, gats and wto Regimes2.5 The Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty3 A Member of the International Space-Related Organizations3.1 uncopuos3.2 The iadc4 Intergovernmental Collaboration and Global Cooperation4.1 The Agreements with Russia in Space Activities4.2 The Relationship with the United States in Space Cooperation4.3 Collaboration with Japan in Space Research4.4 The Expansion of Space Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates4.5 The Partnership with Thailand on the Establishment of Its Spaceport4.6 Cooperative Relationship with Global Community5 Concluding Remarks2 Korea’s National Space Activities in the Past, Present, and Future1 Introduction2 National Space-Related Committees2.1 National Space Committee2.2 Working Committee for the Promotion of Space Development2.3 Working Committee for the Utilization of Satellite Data3 Space-Related Institutes and Facilities3.1 The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (kari)3.2 The Naro Space Center3.3 The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (kaist)3.4 The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (kasi)3.5 The National Space Policy Research Center (sprec)4 Private Entities in the Space Industry5 Space Programs and National Space Activities5.1 The Korea Sounding Rocket (ksr) Program in the 1990s5.2 The Korea Space Launch Vehicle (kslv) Program5.3 The Satellite Development Program and Satellites in Orbit5.4 The Korean Astronaut Program5.5 The Korea Lunar Exploration Program (klep)6 National Space-Related Plans6.1 The Basic and Action Plans for the Promotion of Space Development6.2 The Master and Action Plans for the Utilization of Satellite Data6.3 The Basic and Action Plans to Prepare for Hazards in Space6.4 The Basic and Action Plans for Aerospace Industry Development7 An Overview of the Recent Major National Space Plans7.1 The Third Basic Plan for the Promotion of Space Development (2018–2022)7.2 The Basic Plan for Fosterage of Civil Space Industry (2019–2023)7.3 The Second Master Plan for Utilization of Satellite Data (2019–2023)8 Concluding Remarks3 An Analysis of the Aerospace Industry Development Promotion Act1 Introduction1.1 Legislative History1.2 The Structure and Purpose of the Act2 The Definitions of the Terms in the Act3 Major Provisions of the Act3.1 The Establishment of the Basic Plan for Aerospace Industrial Development3.2 The Promotion of the Aerospace Industry3.3 The Designation of and Support for Specialized Aerospace Industrial Complex3.4 The Performance and Quality Inspection3.5 Financial Support and Lending State-Owned Facilities3.6 The Establishment of the Aerospace Industry Development Policy Council4 An Assessment of the Act5 Concluding Remarks4 An Analysis of the Radio Waves Act1 Introduction2 The Definitions of the Terms in the Act3 Major Provisions of the Act3.1 Securing and Facilitating the Utilization of Spectrum Resources3.2 Master Plan for Frequency Spectrum Promotion3.3 The Allocation of Frequencies3.4 The Regime of the Spectrum Use3.5 National Register of Frequency Usage Rights3.6 The Management of Public Purpose Frequencies3.7 Authorization or Report for the Establishment of a Station3.8 Examination of Permission for Establishment of Broadcasting Stations3.9 A Duty to Secure and Manage Satellite Frequencies for Space Communications3.10 International Recording of Satellite Networks3.11 The Establishment of a Space Station3.12 The Transfer or Lease of Satellite Frequency Usage Rights3.13 The Transfer or Lease of a Space Station’s Facility3.14 The Registration of Satellites with the United Nations3.15 The Submission of a Satellite Operation Plan by the Satellite Operator3.16 A Master Plan for Severe Space Weather Management3.17 International Spectrum Monitoring3.18 International Cooperation to Improve Spectrum Usage Technologies3.19 Disclosure of Current Use of Spectrum Resources3.20 Other Authorities Concerned4 Concluding Remarks5 An Analysis of the Space Development Promotion Act1 Introduction1.1 Legislative History1.2 The Structure and Purpose of the Act2 The Definitions of the Terms in the Act3 General Provisions on National Space Policies and Organizations3.1 Government’s Declaration of Its Fundamental Obligations3.2 The Relationship with Other Acts3.3 The Formulation of the Basic Plan and the Action Plan for the Promotion of Space Development3.4 The Establishment of the National Space Committee3.5 The Establishment of the Working Committee for the Promotion of Space Development3.6 The Designation of Space Development Specialized Institutes3.7 The Formulation of the Master Plan and the Action Plan for the Utilization of Satellite Data3.8 The Establishment of the Working Committee for the Utilization of Satellite Data3.9 The Establishment of the Working Committee for National Space Security3.10 The Formulation of the Basic Plan and Action Plan to Prepare for Hazards in Space3.11 The Designation of a Space Environment Surveillance Institute and Suchlike3.12 Executive Summary of the General Provisions of the Act4 Major Provisions on Space Activities4.1 Jurisdiction4.2 Authorization and Supervision4.3 Registration4.4 Liability4.5 Rescue and Return4.6 Safety and Security4.7 Promotion of Private Space Sector4.8 Dissemination and Utilization of Satellite Data: Remote Sensing4.9 Enforcement Mechanism5 Concluding Remarks6 An Analysis of the Space Damage Compensation Act1 Introduction1.1 Legislative History1.2 The Structure and Purpose of the Act2 The Definitions of the Terms in the Act3 Major Provisions of the Act3.1 The Government’s Right to Recourse and the Principle of Reciprocity3.2 The Liability Regime of South Korea versus that of the Liability Convention3.3 The Maximum Amount of Compensation and Liability Insurance3.4 Measures and Financial Support by the Government3.5 The Period for Claims3.6 Regulatory Review of the Period for Claims4 Concluding RemarksConclusion1 Introduction2 The Findings of the Analysis of Korean Space Legislation2.1 The Aerospace Industry Development Promotion Act of 19872.2 The Radio Waves Act of 1961 as Amended in 20002.3 The Space Development Promotion Act of 20052.4 The Space Damage Compensation Act of 20073 Recommendations and Suggestions for Better Space Governance in Korea3.1 The Need to Reform the Existing Space Legislation and Enact New Regulations for Emerging Space Activities3.2 The Aerospace Industry Development Promotion Act3.3 The Radio Waves Act3.4 The Space Development Promotion Act3.5 The Space Damage Compensation Act4 Perspectives and Prospects for the Future of the Korean Space SectorBibliographyIndex