Korea-France Space Forum Held: ‘Cooperation in Space Activities Between Korea and France in the NewSpace Era’

[Financial News] The space authorities of Korea and France have signed an agreement on cooperation in space activities, aiming to strengthen exchanges in the field between the two countries.
On the 27th, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) announced that it successfully hosted the 5th Korea-France Space Forum at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Seoul, in partnership with the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) of France.
This year’s forum focused on sharing strategies and practical experiences from both countries regarding key issues in the NewSpace era, as well as identifying future areas for cooperation through B2B meetings between companies. The Korea-France Space Forum was established as a follow-up to discussions on strengthening bilateral space cooperation during the Korea-France summit held in 2015, marking the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The event, attended by space agencies and industry representatives from both countries, began with presentations on national space strategies. This was followed by technical presentations and panel discussions on topics such as strategic space autonomy, space exploration, next-generation orbital capabilities, space services, and commercial space. Participants exchanged views on major policies, including roadmaps for space exploration and support measures for building a next-generation space economy, as well as on the main business areas of companies, the need for public-private partnerships (PPP), and the direction of Korea-France cooperation.
In particular, the session on strategic space autonomy featured discussions on future space transportation systems and space security, with both countries sharing the current status and outlook for space transportation, trends in reusable launch vehicle development, and examples of private sector space security services meeting government needs.
Additionally, KASA and CNES used the forum as an opportunity to sign a Framework Agreement on comprehensive cooperation in space activities between the two countries, aiming to expand practical exchanges from institutional collaboration to the broader industrial ecosystem. France, as a key contributor to the European Space Agency (ESA) and a leading space power in Europe, plays a central role in Europe’s core space strategy programs, including space transportation, exploration, Earth observation, and satellite navigation.
Lionel Suchet, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CNES, stated, “France and Korea have complementary strengths. Today’s meeting and the signing of the agreement between our agencies will serve as a foundation for further strengthening space cooperation between our two countries.”
Alongside the Korea-France Space Forum, B2B meetings were held, with 15 Korean and 17 French companies participating in active technological exchanges. Companies specializing in launch vehicles, small satellites, Earth observation solutions, on-orbit services, space situational awareness (SSA) technologies, and space medicine explored opportunities for collaboration.
Youngbin Yoon, Administrator of KASA, remarked, “This year’s forum is especially meaningful as it is the first event co-hosted with CNES since the establishment of KASA. It demonstrates that Korea and France are opening a new era of cooperation in the space sector. I hope today’s gathering will further solidify the foundation for bilateral cooperation and lead to new partnerships and innovation in the space industry.”

jiany@fnnews.com Yeon Ji-an Reporter