The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), dubbed the NASA of South Korea, is recruiting talent ahead of its official launch in May this year, the government said on March 15.
The Ministry of Science announced plans to hire 120 new talent by the May 27 launch date, with intentions to steadily increase the roster of senior researchers in the second half of the year, aiming to assemble a team of around 300 highly skilled researchers.
The director of KASA, who will oversee rocket launches, satellite R&D, and space exploration, is set to receive an annual salary of 250 million won ($188,366), equal to that of the nation’s president, with the possibility of additional compensation. Key researchers will also be paid over 100 million won. This is the first time that an official of a government body could potentially be paid more than the president.
President Yoon Suk-yeol said the government plans to increase the space development budget to 1.5 trillion won on March 13, reinstating the administration’s commitment to place Korea among the top five global space powers.
Experts say the success and global standing of Korea’s space sector depend on KASA’s ability to secure talent in the early days of its inception. KASA is tasked with developing Korea’s indigenous launch vehicles, satellite R&D, and space exploration endeavors, including ambitious missions to the moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045. The agency will also be in charge of space industry policies.
KASA has set competitive salaries for its staff to attract top talent, with the director’s basic salary matching the president’s at 250 million won. The head of each division will earn 140 million won, equivalent to a vice minister’s salary, while senior researchers will be paid between 80 and 110 million won. Entry-level researchers will receive between 60 and 90 million won.
This strategy is inspired by NASA’s approach to compensation, where specialized expertise is rewarded with salaries exceeding the standard civil service pay scale. For example, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center deputy director earns around $277,000, with other specialized roles like computer scientists and astronaut candidates receiving between $150,000 and $160,000.
“Salaries are set above the standard upper limits for exceptional talent,” said Lee Jae-hyung, head of the KASA establishment team. “We need to secure top talent who will lead the nation’s space sector.”
KASA aims to hire 50 senior researchers across 31 positions through initial recruitment. KASA officials work on a tenure system, starting with a three- to five-year contract followed by a contract extension of up to 10 years.
