Proceedings of the Workshop - United Nations Office for Outer ...

_____________________________________________________________Cha-dong KimDirector General of Research and Development BureauMinistry of Science and TechnologyDistinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,It is my great pleasure and privilege to make welcoming remarks at the United Nationsand Republic of Korea Workshop on Space Law. First and foremost, I would like to thank Dr.Yeon-Seok Chae, President of Korea Aerospace Research Institute, for bringing together thisdistinguished workshop, and my colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and theOffice for Outer Space Affairs in the United Nations for their genuine dedication to the success ofthis workshop.This workshop is dedicated to augmenting our awareness on the general issues related tospace development activities and to promoting understanding, acceptance and implementation ofthe United Nations treaties and principles on outer space particularly in the Asia-Pacific Region.The workshop will also identify common changes that national legal systems may have toundergo when becoming party to the United Nations treaties on outer space, especially anychanges that apply to both space-faring and non-space-faring countries.Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:A century has passed since 1903, the year in which the Wright Brothers marked historywith the first human air flight, and in this century human beings have made remarkable advancesin space science and technology.In particular, with the first satellite launched in 1957, we have witnessed the greatdevelopment of space technologies, now having reached the level in which space technologies areparts of our daily life. By simply looking around ourselves, we easily recognize the significantrole satellites play in changing our lives and extending our limits as human beings.Since 1996, Korea has focused on the development of space technologies by pursuing itsNational Space Program. Under this long-term program, we plan to construct a space centre anddevelop a launcher for micro satellite in the near future. Our present aim is to launch 20 satellitesby year 2015.Korea has developed space technologies rapidly and successfully so far. Throughout thisprocess, we have come to recognize the necessity of establishing the national legal system inharmony with the Untied Nations treaties on outer space.Therefore, I firmly believe that this workshop will not only serve to establish thedomestic legislation and implement the United Nations treaties on outer space, but will also allow