Review: Interviews of the first Korean Astronaut

This post has been updated from the previous version for the newly released third installment of the interview series.

Peggy at Women in Science found an excellent series of interviews of Lee So-yeon, the first South Korean astronaut who is scheduled to fly in April.

In the first installment of the series, Lee had just made it to the final 30. She recalled back on how she got into the Korean space program, how she got selected, and how she saw herself as a female scientist and an astronaut-to-be. In the second installment, Lee’s perspective changed a little as she had made it to the final six. She talked about her space training in Russia, more about the selection process, finishing her PhD dissertation along with the training (!), and how she saw herself ahead in the role of an astronaut. (Edited to Add on 10 April 2008) The third installment of the interview is up and it was done when So-yeon had become one of the final two candidates.  In this installment, she talked about the space technological advancement in Korea and Russia relative to the US, how she saw her role in Korea’s, and what she thought about some of the criticisms she’d heard regarding being picked as one of the final two candidates, particarly as someone who does not fit in the traditional image of a sexy woman. 

The informal interviews were done while she was still in the selection process, and she was being very relaxed and friendly. To me, it is quite interesting to see Lee on those standard photo shots in space suits on the one hand, yet on the other hand, she was being relaxed and frank in the interviews to talk about what she had been going through.

As someone who used to work in the US space program, it is also interesting to listen to her views regarding the future of human space program - in the US, Russia, as well as in Korea.  And as a woman, I particularly appreciated her willingness to discuss the criticisms she’d heard regarding her physical appreance.  Or, if she felt that her gender affected her chance of being selected.  Apparently, the Korean public wants to see a feminie sexy female astronaut (or astronaut candidate), but the selection committee might want someone who is strong and less feminine.  But like she said, “I’m sexy in my own way,” which I cannot agree with her more for we cannot please everyone.  All we can do is to be the best version of ourselves.

On a lighter note, at one point in the interview, Lee admitted that her original goal was to make it to the final 30. After that, she thought everything else was icing on the cake. In fact, in the last installment, So-yeon was mentally prepared that she would not be the person to be picked to fly, which she was fine with it because she was more interested in helping Korea to build up her space program.  Yet, with all that said, we all know that she will be flying in April as the first Korean astronaut, and “showing a side of women” that we - as women - also have great abilities without being whiny*!!  Go So-yeon!

 

 

I hope you will enjoy the interviews as much as I have.  In fact, I would not mind seeing another installment now that our heorine has flown and is back on Earth.

*From what I understand, Koreans still have very traditional mindsets regarding men’s and women’s roles in the society, which means that women are expected to stay at homes to take care of children regardless of their educational levels or aspirations.  The scientific community is still dominated by men, of course, and women are viewed as “whiny”, “weak”, and “stupid” and are not fit in the scientific circle.  However, I think it all makes Lee So-yeon’s story that much special and extraordinary.