On Monday, the office of Rep. Yoo Yong-won from the People Power Party hosted a policy forum at the National Assembly in Seoul titled, Beyond Commercial Space Law to the Security Space Era: Building a Foundation for Defense Space Law. The event called for the rapid enactment of defense space legislation.
The discussion covered critical issues such as: – Legitimate defense models for space threats – Legal accountability for satellite attacks and space asset violations – Legislative strategies for developing a joint military-civilian space infrastructure
According to data obtained from the Ministry of Defense by Rep. Yoo’s office, North Korean forces have reportedly conducted several radio attacks on South Korean satellites from the early 2010s through mid-2024. These actions are believed to be attempts to interfere with the operations of South Korea’s military reconnaissance satellites, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems, as well as communication satellites.
Kim Kwon-il, a researcher at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, emphasized that space is a domain for electronic and information warfare. He stressed the urgent need to establish comprehensive protection standards for space assets, given the limitations of existing legal frameworks.
Prof. Jeong Young-jin from the National Defense University stated that the international community’s focus on space centers on the safety and sustainability of space activities. He advocated for a national-level governance structure to collect and analyze operational data for space assets in preparation for potential threats.
Prof. Jeong Heon-joo of Yonsei University argued that it must legally define space infrastructure and integrated military-civilian space systems, clearly outlining the state’s role and responsibilities in their development. He emphasized that building an integrated military-civilian space infrastructure is not optional but essential for national security.