Soyeon’s leaving for Russia on Wednesday, so we just wanted to give her a happy sendoff post and also a unique chance for you all to give some feedback, since she’s been peeping in on this site.
Although Soyeon meant to take the time to write this in English, she has been wrapping things up at school, in her lab, and is spending tonight doing her penultimate night of packing all her things. So she was barely able to get out this message:
“따뜻하고 응원하는 말들을 남겨줘서 너무너무 고마워요
그런 마음들 때문에라도 더 열심히 해야겠단 생각이 들었어요…
그리고…앞으로도 계속 응원해 줄꺼라고 생각해도 되겠죠?
혹시라도 궁금한게 있거나…하고 싶은 말이 있으면 알려주시길…”“I want to thank you all for the warm words of encouragement you’ve left.
It is because of such kind sentiments that I’ve been reminded to try even harder to do my best.
Also, I’ll be able to count on you to root for me in the future, right?
If you have anything you’re curious about, or anything you want to say, I hope you’ll let me know.”
What she’s referring to is a final interview that we’ve decided (that we’ve figured out) is logistically possible since I’ll be in Myeongdong working when she is on her way to Seoul Station for the train back to school. Since we’ve done a summer, fall, and winter series of interviews, we thought a final “spring” one would be nice to lay down, especially since it’ll be her last full day in Korea.
How appropriate, right? Also, since some questions have come up, and we’re in an interactive medium, we thought it would be cool to see if there were any questions that you’d like to possibly include in the final interview. We might have like only 20 minutes to do this, so we she can’t do much, but we’ll do what we can.
You can leave questions for the interview below as comments, or head on over to my blog, where there are more pictures in the relevant post.
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22 Comments
Why aren’t you married?
Cool. The Hole has someone we can cheer on. Our lives now have meaning. Good luck at the Cosmodrome!
she sort of looks like jo jung rin in that picture.
I know she’s you friend and all, but Geez-Oh-Man, can we move on past this girl?
Would you prefer wearing the Darth Vader kit?
Assuming you’re selected, are you looking forward to the whole variety show circuit upon your return? Do you have a song rehearsed?
Will you appear on a postage stamp?
Will there be a parade?
It’s said the Norks don’t know that space has been traveled or that man has walked on the moon–something like that. Do you think the Norks will report your mission?
Does the person who isn’t selected get a shot at another mission?
How does one practice space hygiene prior to going to space?
Have fun & good luck.
Can Tokdo be seen from outer space?
Hehe. Alethia - It’s not that she’s just my friend. I have lots of interesting friends, but they’re not exactly worthy of a podcast.
I don’t know - I just think that this will be an important moment for Korea, and is one of those moments worth rooting for, one of the few that I would get behind for “uri nara.”
In the end, I think promoting more interest in math and science, jumpstarting a domestic space program, and encouraging real role model for women that’s different than what most of my Korean students see out there – that’s why I see this as a chance to do something pretty positive.
It’s also encouraging that these videos get such a strong positive reaction from Korean women (yet often extremely negative ones from Korean men), because they say that it’s so shocking to see such a public figure to be so casually and frankly represented in public.
That’s one of the reasons I became interested in making it a series, to get out what she said.
But if the Hole is getting a little tired, I totally get it, though. Maybe the final installment I’ll just post on my site and put up a small blurb here, rather than post the vid itself, if that’s what people want. I hope I haven’t been reading the interest in her story wrong.
In any case, thanks for the comments and questions, and I’ll keep them with me for later today.
the hole isn’t getting tired. this is good work you’ve done and, like every other post on this blog, if the reader doesn’t want to read it, he/she can just STFU and move on to the next one.
i agree with wedge (although, my life had meaning before).
thanks, michael.
No, Metro, we are not getting tired - we are happy to have you posting here…
And for matters regarding which I disagree with you I come over to your own blog…
Another vote for not getting tired. This series is not only interesting and well done, but a refreshing change from the normal run of GI’s Gone Wild, English Teachers Behaving Badly, and Bamboo Grove bullshit.
I like the interviews, she comes off well, and I certainly think space travel is interesting, though minus the wow-factor. A good role model for women I agree. I don’t know how this is an urinara moment, though. Looking forward to #3 and a possible #4.
I just hope they have her carry out important scientific research, not some populist pseudoscientific nonsense (such as wether kimchi tastes better if its made in space). Sorry, but I can’t stop but being cynical given the ‘reality show’ she and the other candidates were subjected to.
They are dubbed as 국비우주관광객.
With huge money, huge 낙전. 쩝.
http://law4u.net/tech/board.ph.....&no=38
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anousheh_Ansari
Read and think what’s happening at the behind. Are you fully known?
Great series Mr. Metro, keep it up.
“think what’s happening at the behind” Sorry, but LOL
I like it. It is nice to have a good story about a real person done without all the usual crap.
Ms. Yi So-Yeon,
You go, girl! My daughter and I are rooting for you!
Id be curious to know if she feels like there are differing expectations for her vs. the guy who will be going up with her. As has been said here, she will be, and in my opinion should be, seen as a role model for girls. I’m not really up on things, but I haven’t heard a whole lot of noise about the guy being a role model. Does she feel like the focus will be more on her in that regard?
I’m kinda glad that the K-press and even Ms Soyun Lee herself hasn’t latched onto the inevitable notion of being the role model for Korean girls nonsense with all this astronaut business, as it prolly would have been handled if something like this were happening in the US. That’s a huge burden to bear, to be a singular representative in an endeavor that is already extremely difficult, fraught with perils and possibilities for failure or disappointment. She already has more than enough on her plate with succeeding past the elimination rounds, enduring arduous training, a partially done PhD thesis looming in the background, et cetera without all that extra role model stuff.
I would also appreciate it if Mr Hurt would refrain from continuously insinuating that Korean males are less than enthused about Soyun and her space prospects, because I don’t think that’s true. Koreans, male and female, alike have always been able to cherish and celebrate the accomplishments of famous Korean women, from Queen Sondok ruler of Silla, iconic independence figures Queen Min and Yoo Kwon Sun, and celebrities like Pak Se Ri in recent times. So I see no real reason why it should be any different now.
Other than that, despite our differences in the past, I’d like to commend Mr Hurt for doing a fine job with these series.
Bluejives said:
“Other than that, despite our differences in the past, I’d like to commend Mr Hurt for doing a fine job with these series.”
Talk about your left-handed compliments…looks like things are going to take a turn for the worse.
Like Soyeon. Like the series. Could do without the “we’re trying to make Korea a better place” angle used by the otherwise excellent blogger. Suggest just letting the story speak for itself.
Especially dislike Soyeon’s Naver-Girl-in-Gangnam houndstooth coat look. Would like to set up a shopping date with her at a department store and get her a real women’s coat suitable for a classy lady.
Suggest Soyeon take the 20 minutes scheduled for filming of Part 4 and get the new coat instead.
Don’t know why stuck in telegraph writing mode.
Wonder about Soyeon’s real prospects of “winning”. Is the woman candidate just a token? Hope not.
Hey! They’re great interviews. Why be negative about good stuff?
Maybe I’m getting old Michael?, but the subtitles are moving a bit too fast at times? I know I said it before.
Anyway, thanks for sharing these fascinating videos.
Any thoughts about how So-yeon’s and her male colleague’s chances stack up? Is it a 50-50 thing? Does anyone sense the Korean government will pull for the guy? Do the Russians care who wins? Anyone know anything about this?