Lao and Korean officials join for a group photo at the ceremony marking the conclusion of the project in Vientiane on Thursday.

Korea, Laos conclude KSP 2nd phase of aviation safety project

The Republic of Korea and Laos have successfully concluded the second phase of the Knowledge Sharing Programme (KSP) project on improving aviation safety for Luang Prabang International Airport.
The project, titled “Luang Prabang International Airport Aviation Operation System Improvement Project (2nd Phase)”, aims to strengthen Laos’ aviation safety inspection system and build sustainable capacity for aviation professionals in line with international standards.
The final report seminar marking the completion of the project was co-chaired by the KSP Senior Advisor and Former Vice Minister of Korea’s Ministry of Land and Infrastructure and Transport, Mr Kim Jeong Ryeol,  the Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Mr Khamla Phommavanh, and the Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Mr Lee Dong Gyu.

Mr Khamla Phommavanh (right) and a representative of the Korea Aerospace University sign an MoU in Vientiane on Thursday.

The event was attended by senior officials from both countries, including the Director General of KOTRA Vientiane, Mr Park Jungwe, representatives of Luang Prabang International Airport, and officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
The KSP, funded by Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, is an ODA-based policy consultation programme that supports development planning and institutional capacity-building in partner countries. The aviation safety project assists Laos in preparing for the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) scheduled for 2026.
Building on the success of Phase 1 in 2023-24, which focused on airspace and flight procedure improvements, the second phase emphasised institutional capacity-building through the establishment of an Aviation Safety Inspector Training System. The project introduced an ICAO-compliant training curriculum to help Laos develop self-sufficient aviation safety and security professionals.
The Korea Aerospace University, the project implementer, presented a roadmap for developing the Aviation Safety Inspector System. The plan includes setting up training systems for safety and security inspectors, developing specialised programmes for Luang Prabang International Airport, and introducing a “Train-the-Trainer” model to enable Laos to independently train its personnel.
During the ceremony, a significant milestone was marked as the DCA and KAU signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen human resource development in the aviation sector.
Under this agreement, both parties will collaborate on specialised training programmes covering aviation safety and security, safety management systems (SMS), and pilot training. The cooperation also includes joint development of training materials, feasibility studies for establishing an aviation training institute in Laos, and exploration of ODA funding with Korean organisations such as KOICA, MOLIT and KOTRA.
The MoU will remain in effect for five years and aims to establish a sustainable framework to advance aviation education and safety standards in Laos.
In his remarks, Mr Kim Jeong Ryeol reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to supporting Laos in improving air transport safety and efficiency.
Mr Khamla Phommavanh expressed appreciation for Korea’s continuous assistance, and said the project lays a strong foundation for professional capacity development and operational safety improvement.
Mr Lee Dong Gyu noted that Korea-Laos relations have deepened over the past three decades, with this project further strengthening cooperation and supporting the growth of Laos’ aviation sector.
Mr Park Jungwe highlighted that the KSP project demonstrates the success of Korea-Laos cooperation in  aviation and serves as a model for future bilateral development initiatives.
The successful conclusion of the project marked another milestone in the Korea-Laos partnership under the KSP framework, advancing mutual cooperation and contributing to Laos’ efforts to achieve international aviation standards.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 21, 2025)