
Lee Sang-chul, President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, speaks at the first in-person General Assembly of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) in Querétaro, Mexico, on the 20th (local time). Photo courtesy of KARI.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has been officially appointed as the permanent technical advisor to the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE). It is the first time a non-regional country has been granted this position.
KARI announced on the 20th (local time) that it was appointed as the permanent technical advisor during ALCE’s first in-person General Assembly held in Querétaro, Mexico. As a long-term cooperation partner, KARI will provide technical advice and offer opinions by participating in ALCE meetings.
Established in 2021, ALCE is a multilateral space cooperation organization for the Latin American and Caribbean region, modeled after the European Space Agency (ESA).
KARI has shared its technical experience and knowledge since ALCE’s early stages by providing online space education programs to member countries. The appointment as permanent technical advisor is in recognition of these past cooperative activities and contributions.
Through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, KARI plans to invite experts from ALCE member countries to Korea to operate advanced space education and technology exchange programs. KARI also intends to contribute to enhancing the space development capabilities of the Latin American and Caribbean region through multifaceted cooperation, including promoting joint research with ALCE member countries, expanding education and training programs, and providing technical advice in the fields of satellites and satellite applications.
Lee Sang-chul, President of KARI, stated, “Based on our accumulated experience in technology development and our international cooperation network, KARI will actively support ALCE’s capacity building and the discovery of joint projects with Korea.” He added, “We will further expand space cooperation with the Latin American and Caribbean region through practical and sustainable collaboration, including human resource development, technical advice, and joint research.”

Participants pose for a group photo at the first in-person General Assembly of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) in Querétaro, Mexico, on the 20th (local time). Photo courtesy of KARI.
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