Korea's Air Force will recruit aerospace experts for the first time in a bid to expand its space exploration capabilities.

An Air Force official said Tuesday it will select, this year, 27 aerospace experts among its officers directly involved in space operations, and it hopes to increase the number in the years to come.

The official added that the Air Force also plans to establish a new specialty staff for space projects after consulting with the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Air Force aims to establish a basic system for its space capabilities, including implementing an electro-optical space monitoring system by 2015, before obtaining the ability to conduct space operations by 2020. It hopes to have independent space operational capabilities by 2030.