Investing in the Future: What Drives Public Support for Space Policy in South Korea?

• In Event: Infrastructure, Space, and Digital Governance

Abstract

Space was originally a domain of national security, shaped by the dynamics of the Cold War and military competition. Over time, it became a stage for scientific and technological rivalry among advanced nations. Today, space policy has further evolved to encompass economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and national resilience. As the scope of space policy has broadened, public engagement and support have become increasingly critical. While leading spacefaring countries like the United States have established a rich body of research on public support for space initiatives, studies focusing on middle-power countries remain limited. 

This study examines the formation of public support for space budget expansion in South Korea, where an understudied public opinion accompanies growing space ambitions. Specifically, the research examines how general interest in space influences support for increased public spending, and whether perceptions of specific, concrete space development plans mediate this relationship. These plans include satellite development, lunar exploration, and efforts toward technological independence. The key hypothesis is that general interest alone is insufficient to produce strong policy support—rather, support is significantly higher when individuals view space initiatives as concrete and purposeful. 

The analysis draws on original survey data collected in 2022 from a nationally representative sample of 1,000 South Korean adults. The findings indicate that interest in space has a direct, positive effect on support for space budget expansion. However, this relationship is much stronger when individuals also perceive concrete space development plans as important. The indirect effect through this perception is more than twice as large as the direct effect. This suggests that tangible and specific initiatives play a more important role than general enthusiasm in shaping public support. 

This study makes both theoretical and practical contributions. Theoretically, it provides empirical evidence for the cognitive pathway linking interest to support through perceived programmatic relevance. Practically, it highlights the importance of policy communication: governments seeking to secure long-term support for space initiatives must go beyond promoting space in general terms and instead emphasize detailed, goal-oriented plans.

By focusing on South Korea, a technologically advanced country located in a geopolitically dynamic and high-stakes region, this study fills a critical gap in the global literature on space policy attitudes. Surrounded by nuclear threats from North Korea and positioned near major space powers such as China and Russia, South Korea’s space policy is shaped not only by economic ambition but also by national security imperatives. The findings suggest that in such contexts, public support for space investment is driven less by abstract ideals and more by confidence in well-defined, goal-oriented programs. These insights offer valuable guidance for designing effective public engagement and strategic communication in countries where space policy is closely tied to broader issues of security, sovereignty, and global competitiveness.

Author

• Soonwoo Choi, Florida State University
  Presenting Author