KASA Joins International Disaster Response Body as Board Member, to Help Shape Policy Starting Next Year

[Financial News] The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has joined an international cooperation body for space and major disaster response as a board member. It has so far taken part in operational cooperation, including by providing countries affected by disasters overseas with imagery captured by national satellites. Starting next year, it will also take part in policy decisions on international disaster response.
KASA announced that it had joined the international cooperation body for space and major disaster response as a board member at the 56th regular board meeting of the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters,” held on the 21st at Ochanomizu Solacity in Tokyo, Japan.
The International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” is an international cooperation framework under which, when a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake, typhoon or heavy snowfall occurs, member organizations use their satellites to capture images of affected areas and provide the imagery and analysis to affected countries. Seventeen organizations, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), participate in it.
Satellite imagery is used to assess the extent of damage in areas that are difficult to access because of disasters and to obtain information needed for rescue and recovery. Sharing satellite data held by multiple countries and organizations helps analyze disaster damage that individual countries would find difficult to assess using their own observation capabilities alone.
South Korea began participating in international disaster-response cooperation in 2011, when the Korea Aerospace Research Institute joined the International Charter. Since then, whenever a large-scale disaster has occurred overseas, it has provided affected countries with imagery captured by national satellites. When disasters have occurred domestically, it has also received satellite imagery from abroad through the Charter and used it to assess the damage and respond.
KASA’s role will also expand with its board membership. Starting in 2027, KASA plans to take part in policy discussions on the International Charter as a member of its board. It also plans to strengthen the international disaster-response system in cooperation with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, which has handled satellite imagery provision and operational disaster-response work.
KASA expects that joining the body will provide an opportunity to enhance its role and standing in international cooperation, as the agency overseeing national space and aerospace policy.
“With our membership on the International Charter’s board, we will further strengthen our national responsibility and leadership in contributing to international disaster relief efforts, and help the world overcome disasters by sharing satellite data accurately and promptly,” said KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seok.
[email protected] Yeon Ji-an Reporter