- Lay foundation for developing Korean Positioning System (KPS) as a follow-up measure to the ROK-U.S. Summit

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Minister Lim Hyesook) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA; Minister Chung Eui-young) announced that the signing ceremony for Korea-U.S. Joint Statement on Civil Global Navigation Satellite Systems Cooperation** was held with the U.S. Department of State and National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT* under the Department of Commerce.

* National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation & Timing
** (English title) JOINT STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ON CIVIL GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS COOPERATION

Korea has been pushing for the development of Korean Positioning System (KPS)** which provides information on high precision positioning, navigation and timing* as the infrastructure of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
* Positioning, Navigation, Timing
** Korean Positioning System

The Korean government has been preparing to launch projects by reflecting the plan to establish satellite navigation systems in "the 3rd basic plan for space development promotion (Feb. 2018)." Korea has been working with the U.S. which has a lot of technologies and experiences in the field of satellite navigation systems, in considering that it is the first time for Korea to develop satellite navigation systems although it has experiences in developing Earth Observation Satellites.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have strived to collaborate with the U.S. for successful satellite navigation cooperation. With the Korea-U.S. Summit, both countries could agree on Korea’s development of Korean Positioning System (KPS).

In the Fact Sheet: ROK-U.S. Partnership, the two countries jointly decided to support Korea's development of its own satellite navigation system, KPS and enhance its compatibility and interoperability with the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Korea-U.S. Joint Statement on Civil Global Navigation Satellite Systems Cooperation is a follow-up measure to the ROK-U.S. Summit. The Joint Statement stipulates specific ways to strengthen cooperation in satellite navigation system between Korea and the U.S. such as collaboration on signal designs for KPS to ensure compatibility with GPS, enhancing interoperability of KPS with GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems and facilitating bilateral meetings to discuss matters regarding KPS.

The signing ceremony was held through a video conference. From the Korean side, Director of Space and Big Science Policy Division, Ministry of Science and ICT and Director of Energy and Scientific Affair Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the Joint Statement. From the U.S. side, Acting Director of Office of Space Affairs, Department of State and Director of National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT, Department of Commerce signed the Joint Statement.

With the signing of the Joint Statement on Civil Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Korea’s KPS will be developed smoothly thanks to the support from the U.S.

Currently, the project to develop KPS is undergoing preliminary feasibility studies and if it passes the test, KPS will be developed from 2022.

In addition, the increased collaboration between Korea and the U.S. will allow both KPS and GPS to be used in Korea simultaneously, which would lead to the provision of improved satellite navigation system for citizens to appreciate.

Jaeshik Shin, Director of Space and Big Science Policy Division, Ministry of Science and ICT said, "KPS is an essential infrastructure of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and if we pass preliminary feasibility studies and start development of KPS, its success would be based on the recent cooperation with the U.S. The signing of the Joint Statement is one of the concrete outcomes in space science resulting from the Summit, along with the signing of the Artemis Accords. This would greatly contribute to expanding investment in space and facilitation of civil space industry in Korea."

Hakseok Ryu, Director of Energy and Scientific Affair Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The signing of the Joint Statement has expanded the scope of Korea-U.S. collaboration in space. Korea will continue to provide support, so that bilateral cooperation can be strengthened in the process of KPS development."

For further information, please contact Senior Deputy Director Kim Tae Kyu (E-mail : taegyukim@korea.kr) of the MInistry of Science and ICT.