Lee calls for further advances in satellite technology after watching Nuri launch

President Lee Jae Myung watched the live broadcast of South Korea's Nuri rocket's successful launch on Wednesday and urged for further advancements in satellite technology, according to his office. Accompanying him were several aides, including Lee Hai-min, a senior presidential secretary for AI policy and future planning. The rocket launched from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, roughly 400 kilometers from Seoul, at 12:25 p.m. and successfully deployed five satellites in South Korea's inaugural microsatellite constellation. The event was met with applause from Lee, who expressed joy alongside space officials on screen.

Lee attributed the achievement to the government's active support for space launches. He advocated for reducing the intervals between future launches to expedite progress in satellite technology. Additionally, Lee shared a message on the social media platform X, claiming that South Korea had taken "one step closer to space sovereignty."

The microsatellite constellation, he noted, will enhance national security and disaster response by providing more frequent monitoring of the country. The presidential spokesperson revealed that Lee has significantly increased financial support for domestic businesses in the commercial space transportation sector, with an extra 3.28 billion won allocated, resulting in five more launches planned through 2032.