H.E. Lee Sang-hwa, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to the Philippines, conducted a courtesy visit to Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr. on 31 May 2024. 

Ambassador Lee was joined by Economic Counsellor Mr. Kwon Soon Hyun, Third Secretary & Vice Consul Ms. Lee Jong-mi, and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Deputy Country Director Ms. Yoo Jiyoung.  

Director General Marciano presented PhilSA’s current and ongoing initiatives to the Korean delegation. The meeting also explored possible avenues of cooperation in SSTA with South Korea. 

One milestone project in cooperation with South Korea is the Pan-Asia Partnership for Geospatial Air Pollution Information and the Pandora Asia Network (PAPGAPI-PAN) project—a technology transfer, data-sharing, and capacity building initiative on air pollution using data from the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) aboard Korea’s GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellite complemented by ground-based remote sensing instruments called Pandora. Launched by the Republic of Korea in February 2020, GEMS is the world’s first geostationary satellite sensor for air quality monitoring. This technology enables hourly monitoring of air pollution levels in almost twenty (20) countries in Asia, including the Philippines. During their visit, the Korean delegation was also apprised of updates on the PAPGAPI-PAN project. 

Various collaborations, such as capacity-building programs in Korea and PhilSA’s partnership with Perigee, were discussed.  

(L-R, Front) Dr. Ariel C. Blanco (PhilSA Director for Space Information and Infrastructure), Ms. Mary Angelie Sto. Domingo (Supervising Science Research Specialist, PhilSA Space International Cooperation Division), Atty. Noelle Riza D. Castillo (PhilSA Director for Space Policy and International Cooperation), Engr. Denis F. Villorente (PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Operations, Infrastructure, & Industry), Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr. (PhilSA Director General), H.E. Lee Sang-hwa (Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines), Mr. Kwon Soon Hyun (Economic Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines), Ms. Lee Jong-mi (Third Secretary & Vice Consul, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines), and Korea International Cooperation Agency Ms. Yoo Jiyoung (KOICA Deputy Country Director). (L-R, Back) Mr. Kritzman Caballero (Chief Science Research Specialist, PhilSA Space International Cooperation Division), Dr. Marc Caesar R. Talampas (Director for Space Technology Missions & Systems), Engr. Rolando Martinez (PhilSA Director for Space Industry and Strategic Business Development)

PhilSA Director General Marciano (L) presenting Ambassador Lee a copy of ‘Si Tala at ang Kanyang Lakbay Kalawakan!’ children’s book on international space treaties

Dr. James Cesar Refran (R) presenting to Ambassador Lee the Pandora instruments donated by KOICA

Ambassador Lee and the South Korean delegation taking a walk around the PhilSA office