Korea's First Astronaut: Yi So-yeon and the 2008 Soyuz Flight

In 2008, South Korea sent its first citizen into space—but the journey was anything but smooth. Yi So-yeon, a biotech engineer, was selected from over 36,000 applicants, trained for a year in Russia, and launched aboard a Soyuz capsule to the International Space Station. Her 11-day mission made her a national hero, but behind the triumph lay a bitter selection controversy, a last-minute crew swap, and a harrowing re-entry that nearly ended in tragedy. This episode unpacks the political ambitions, technological stakes, and personal grit behind Korea's leap into the final frontier. We explore the role of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the early satellite programs, and how Yi's flight inspired a new generation of Korean scientists. Join Lucas and Luna as they trace the arc from Cold War space race to a nation's proud moment in orbit, and ask what it truly means to reach for the stars.

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