The Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), in a briefing released on Feb. 28, indicated that a renewed Trump presidency would likely reinforce policies emphasizing space commercialization and military capabilities — initiatives that took root during his first term. A focal point of these efforts, the report suggests, will be manned exploration of Mars.
“Trump’s second-term space policy is expected to solidify the ‘commercialization of space’ and ‘strengthening of space military power’ policies that began during his first term,” the report states, predicting that the U.S. will seek to “secure overwhelming dominance” in the space economy as Mars exploration gains momentum.
The report anticipates a shift in leadership within American space programs, with private enterprises such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX playing an increasingly central role.
Federal agencies, including NASA, could see their objectives recalibrated, while government-backed initiatives like the Space Launch System may undergo significant revisions as the private sector’s influence expands.
Musk’s potential sway within the Trump administration is highlighted as a key driver of corporate involvement in national space initiatives, potentially reshaping lunar exploration programs that have been a cornerstone of U.S. space ambitions in recent years.
For South Korea, the KISTEP report underscores the importance of maintaining strong cooperative ties with Washington while exploring opportunities to participate in emerging initiatives, such as human Mars exploration.
Researchers also suggest that Seoul should seek to engage the U.S. in Korean-led space exploration projects, aiming to elevate bilateral cooperation in the face of increasing military and strategic interests in space.
South Korea has been a longstanding U.S. ally in space exploration. In October 2024, the country signed a research agreement with NASA, three years after joining the Artemis Accords — non-binding multilateral arrangements spearheaded by the U.S. to foster international collaboration in space activities.
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