Park In-kyu (박인규), head of the Science and Technology Innovation Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, held a “youth on-site communication” meeting on Tuesday with aerospace-related graduate students at Gyeongsang National University.

The meeting was held in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, an aerospace industry hub, to hear on-site views on future aerospace talent, including research and career paths, regional settlement and measures to develop the industrial ecosystem. The ministry’s 2030 Youth Advisory Group also took part.

Participants exchanged views on investment direction in the space and aerospace sector, joint research among industry, academia and research institutes and expanded research infrastructure, research stipends and improved research conditions, and employment and startups at local companies.

The ministry will review measures to expand aerospace research and job and startup opportunities in the region and strengthen cooperation among universities, government-funded research institutes and companies. It also plans to reflect on-site views in policies to support young researchers’ regional settlement.

Park said, “Aerospace is a future growth engine for South Korea and a leading strategic technology field where young people can take on challenges on the world stage.” He added, “We will actively reflect young people’s voices in policy to create an environment for immersive research and strengthen support for science and technology talent.”