The National Space Policy Committee
As the newly elected president, a former lawyer, entered the conference room, the ministers rose from their seats to greet him. The president exchanged nods with them, took his seat, and immediately commenced the meeting. In place of the Minister of Science and ICT, who was serving as the secretary, a bureau director began explaining the agenda.
“To establish a foundation for building a national satellite navigation system and to promote the development of related projects, the Republic of Korea is preparing a comprehensive national development master plan…”
For about ten minutes, the bureau director from the Ministry of Science and ICT detailed policy measures for establishing the foundation of the national satellite navigation system, while the ministers stared at the meeting materials with expressionless faces. As soon as the agenda explanation concluded, the president immediately posed a question to the ministers.
“The satellite navigation system appears to be a matter that requires a national-level strategy and inter-ministerial cooperation. Which ministry do you think should be in charge?”
As soon as the president finished speaking, the Minister of Science and ICT grabbed the microphone. “Considering the characteristics of artificial satellites, we must operate a dedicated department under the Ministry of Science and ICT.”
“What do the other ministers think?”
“……”
The ministers nodded in response to the president’s question, signaling their agreement with the Minister of Science and ICT. The president smiled. “I heard that Kim Taesik, CEO of Starlink, is here as a civilian expert. Where is he?”
Taesik raised his hand at the president’s call. “Could we hear the opinion of CEO Kim Taesik, who was the first in the private sector to place artificial satellites into orbit?”
Receiving the attention of the president, the ministers, and the Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Taesik pointed out the flaws in the content he had heard during the presentation.
“Excluding Starlink’s satellites, the Republic of Korea currently possesses zero satellites equipped with a navigation system. The presenter just explained the necessity of building a Korean-style satellite navigation system, but we need a more concrete plan.”
After catching his breath, he continued, “Since we cannot launch satellites into orbit immediately, we need international cooperation—participating in the Galileo project of the U.S. and Europe to receive navigation data—and we need a plan to train professional personnel to design and manufacture satellites. Therefore, I believe the department in charge of space policy should be established directly under the president to receive support from all government ministries.”
Once Taesik finished, the president asked, “Does anyone object to CEO Kim Taesik’s words?”
The ministers all shook their heads, and the NIS Director took the microphone. “You didn’t mention military utilization in what you just said. What should the Ministry of National Defense and the NIS do?”
“Considering the Republic of Korea’s fiscal capacity, it is not a situation where we can separate civil and military satellite launches. I believe we should launch artificial satellites with integrated civil-military functions, build a national integrated satellite center, and manage the civil and military sectors separately.”
“The government currently does not possess proper military satellites and has not been able to form international cooperation in the military sector. Can you provide the government with information captured by the optical cameras on the satellites Starlink launched this time?”
“Of course. Starlink is a company; as long as the government pays a fair price, we can provide it at any time.”
After the NIS Director’s question ended, the president spoke. “Then, we will establish a space policy agency directly under the president and have related ministries support it. In particular, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education should put effort into policy and training professional personnel.”
When the meeting ended, the president shook hands with Taesik, requested his help in establishing space policy strategies, and left the room. The Minister of Science and ICT and the NIS Director approached Taesik. First, the Minister of Science and ICT spoke.
“A young CEO has done a great thing for the Republic of Korea. I saw through media reports that two artificial satellites have been placed into orbit; I ask for your continued cooperation. We are launching the Mugunghwa 5 this year; could we use the optical system developed by Starlink?”
“Of course. I will provide it if necessary.”
After whispering with the bureau director next to him about the matters requiring Starlink’s cooperation, the Minister of Science and ICT added, “And there may be some other areas of cooperation; I ask for your help.”
Taesik smiled at the minister’s words. “If it helps the Republic of Korea, I will sell products that include the relevant technology.”
“Hahaha. We should work with Starlink for the next satellite production. Since this Mugunghwa 5 was conducted under French leadership, many parts with lower specifications were included.”
As the Minister of Science and ICT disappeared with his director, the NIS Director spoke up. “CEO Kim! Can you spare a moment?”
Taesik moved to a spot with the NIS Director and introduced himself formally. “I am Kim Taesik, CEO of Starlink. I should have introduced myself before the meeting started…”
“No, it’s fine. I know it’s not easy to introduce yourself in a place where ministers are gathered. The reason I asked to see you is that I received a report that Starlink was not responding to the NIS’s cooperation requests, but meeting you in person, I feel that the report I received is different. Do you have no intention of supplying satellite photos to the NIS? The NIS is in a situation where it needs information assets necessary for monitoring North Korea.”
Taesik explained the incident with the section chief of the NIS’s North Korea department and said, “If the NIS hadn’t threatened me, I would have been willing to cooperate. If you stop the investigation into me, I will provide support immediately.”
“I didn’t know such a thing happened in the field. I will discipline the employee in question immediately, and we will sign a formal purchase contract for the satellite photos Starlink provides.”
Taesik continued after the NIS Director’s apology. “You don’t have to discipline the employee because of me. It’s just that the first button was sewn wrong, but we can cooperate with each other in the future.”
“Thanks to Starlink, we will be able to lower our dependence on U.S. information assets. I ask for your cooperation in the future.”
Having resolved the issue with the NIS in an unexpected place, Taesik returned in a joyful mood, and the very next day, he received a visit from Section Chief Choi Jae-ho of the NIS. As soon as Section Chief Choi entered the conference room, he bowed his head in apology, and General Manager Park Kyung-hoon pulled the bowing section chief up and sat him down.
“Thank you for speaking well of me to the Director yesterday. The Director gave me instructions to build cooperation with Starlink, along with saying he would give me one more chance.”
At the words of the humbled Section Chief Choi Jae-ho, Taesik smiled. “There might be many operations using artificial satellites in the NIS, so let’s cooperate well in the future.”
“CEO Kim. We will purchase the satellite imagery I mentioned last time on an NIS level, based on the Korean Peninsula, every day. We will accept whatever price you set.”
“600,000 won per satellite image should be fine. Would that be okay?”
“Thank you for your consideration. And we will also purchase 1,000 of the new walkie-talkies Starlink is producing.”
Taesik, hearing that the NIS was purchasing walkie-talkies as compensation for their high-handedness, said, “You don’t necessarily have to purchase unnecessary walkie-talkies.”
“No. Our NIS field teams also need products equipped with satellite phone and walkie-talkie functions.”
General Manager Park Kyung-hoon instructed a contract manager to bring the contract and then spoke to Section Chief Choi. “Section Chief Choi. I will handle the cooperation with the NIS from now on, so if you need help, contact me anytime!”
“Understood. Senior. I apologize once again for the rudeness last time.”
After Section Chief Choi left, Taesik checked the schedule for navigation production and the two additional satellites being manufactured, then called Sane at Starlink Maps in the U.S.
“Sane! How are the U.S. navigation sales?”
“Hahaha. Lately, sales through the home shopping channel QVC and online are continuously increasing. Since our product became known through QVC, online sales have caught up to the QVC sales volume.”
“That’s good. And I sent 500 million dollars to Starlink Maps; did you confirm it?”
“I was actually going to call you about that. We can create electronic maps just with the profits from navigation sales, so why did you send so much money?”
“There is a limit to growth with just electronic maps of the North American region. Now we have to break into Europe and Southeast Asia.”
“Ah! You mean to build electronic maps by country. With 500 million dollars, we can proceed in several countries simultaneously; do you have a priority in mind?”
“Let’s proceed in the order of car sales volume.”
“Then we should start with China and Europe.”
“Our primary goal is to catch up to Navteq, the leading electronic map company, and we will begin advanced work on electronic maps in the future. And you know that Starlink Communications launched satellites into space, right?”
“Yes. I heard about it while talking to President Ryu.”
“We will also start a satellite photo provision service. We will provide the necessary satellite photos here, so please provide them to customers through Starlink Maps’ electronic map service.”
“Ah! You mean a service like Google Earth.”
“It’s a bit different from them. Google only provides satellite photos, but we provide electronic maps as well, so we can have a competitive edge.”
“Then, we will be providing satellite views and street views simultaneously through the electronic map service.”
“We have to seize the electronic map market.”
“I will prepare immediately.”
“And you must sign a contract between Starlink Communications and Maps to make the accounting clear.”
“Yes. I will discuss the details with President Ryu and organize it.”
Having presented the concrete direction to Sane, Taesik ended the call and turned on the office TV to rest for a moment. The TV was showing real-time breaking news of the Iraq War, showing U.S. troops entering Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, and reporting that an end-of-war declaration by the U.S. was expected soon. Taesik felt a sense of regret that there were no additional purchases of the new walkie-talkies provided to the U.S. military as a sample contract, but knowing that the fall of Baghdad was not the end, he turned off the TV.
As Thuraya Telecommunications began its satellite phone service, Starlink’s satellites began to create economic value, and President Ryu wore a happy smile every day as profits were generated through navigation sales and satellites.
A month later, Taesik wore a bewildered expression at the news brought by General Manager Park.
“Yes…? Who wants to meet me?”
“Vice Chairman Jeon Hak-soo of the Misung Group has contacted us saying he wants to meet.”
At General Manager Park’s report, Taesik guessed it was related to his purchase of Misung Electronics stock through Luke at WP Morgan, and he wore a bewildered expression. Taesik immediately called Luke at WP Morgan, and hearing Luke’s voice as he answered in his sleep, he said,
“Luke. Can you talk right now?”
“What’s going on at this hour? Please speak.”
“How much Misung Electronics stock did I purchase?”
“It’s approximately 1.5% of the total issued shares. The profit margin is about 8%. Are you thinking of selling?”
“No. I’m sorry for calling when you should be in bed.”
“You can call me anytime without hesitation. If you ever need to sell in a hurry, please call me anytime.”
Taesik remembered that the secured Misung Electronics stock was 1.5% and waited for Vice Chairman Jeon Hak-soo’s visit.