Hello,

Dear space and satellite experts and friends!

My name is S.J. Chung. I'm currently Visiting Professor of Information and Communication at the Government University. Also, I am also president of the Korean Satellite and Space Technology Association.

I'm very glad to meet you.

Question 1:
Based on your experience, what kinds of academic programs, curricula and practical training will be needed for Koreans to be full participants in the decades ahead?

I think in the long run we need to expand our academic curricula related to space technology and applications. I have long advocated that we need to establish a Regional Cooperative Institute for the training of multi-national experts and engineers. A multi-national Regional Training Center will save money since industries from different countries will be able to invest and provide tools and expertise. Over time, many countries can join the Institute for training purposes. I think this will be the most economical approach. Because space technology is expensive, you need a huge amount of investment.

Question 2:
What was valuable about your education in preparing you to work in the field?

Educational opportunities for space communication in my young days were very few. Actually, I could learn a lot more valuable things at the job site. In the space technology arena, through class lectures you could not learn many of the things applicable to the job site.

Question 3:
What types of curriculum or learning opportunities would have made your education stronger?

Well, rather than classroom theoretical lectures, we needed a lot more laboratory practice and some job site training programs.

Question 4:
Where do you see the next generation space/satellite professionals being trained in Korea?

I think in the laboratories and classrooms in the colleges and in industry. But of course in college you will learn theoretical stuff from the lecture. But in the national laboratory you will learn more practical stuff through exercises. Real, actual experience should be obtained from an especially established training institute and from the industry job sites.

Question 5:
How did you develop an interest in space/satellite communication?

Well, for the last 15 years I have been responsible for technology development on a major Korean project, and served as its Manager. In the beginning I had a very difficult time finding space experts who were very proficient. I had to spend a very long time producing any visible results because of that reason.

Thank you very much.

______

The interview with Seon Jong Chung, President, Korean Satellite and Space Technology Association, was conducted in the television studios of Sookmyung Women's University with the assistance of KSSP Director Si-Chul Park (e-mail: kosst@chollian.net), Dr. Chun-il Park of Sookmyung Women's University (e-mail: park1001@sookmyung.ac.kr) and Professor Seung-Chang Yang Director of Sookmyung Women's University Broadcasting Station (email: scyang@sookmyung.ac.kr).

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