She landed safely about half-an-hour ago. Congratulations, Miss Yi.
(I stuck this post under “IT Korea” since I couldn’t think of a better place to stick it.)
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40 Comments
Besides the experiments, it seems that Miss Yi has been busy doing “performances” in the ISS.
http://itnews.inews24.com/php/.....enu=020400
The “performances” included;
1. Waving 9 flags, including the Korean, UN, ROKAF, MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology, and KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) flags
2. A lecture on “Science, Technology, and the 10,000 Won Note”
3. Reading a Korean poem while wearing a scarf emblazoned with the Hunmin jeongeum.
4. Creating the words “I Love Korea” and “To the Future and Space!” using letter blocks and saying it out loud.
She also supposedly stuck Taegeukgi and the Korean space mission stickers in the Zvedza and the Destiny modules.
Kind of makes you wonder about the idiots who planned this mission and told Miss Yi to do the ridiculous and embarrasing “performances” above.
It was quite the bumpy landing though.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24211848
Those engineers are blowing the landings on these $20 million dollar tourist flights.
No offense to Ms Yi, but what exactly makes her different from a space tourist? Or, perhaps more precisely, an agent of “sparkling Korea?” Not that there’s anything wrong with that per se, I guess I just don’t see how this heralds the beginning of a Korean space program, just as taking an American school teacher into space did not herald the beginning of the American public school system space program.
#4:
I think the key difference with a space tourist is that MS. Yi’s career will continue to be closely related to this experience. As for question 2… I don’t think she (or most citizens of the ROK) sees that there is any incompatibility between being a member of an international team and an agent of sparkling Korea. It even shows up in reactions to Ban Ki-moon’s appointment and some of his own actions as head of the UN. I think he’s doing a good job, but he doesn’t forget that he represents his people. For a really good (scholarly) analysis of how being cosmopolitan and Korean go together, check out:
iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/20125/Shin.pdf
I agree with Andy, all seems a little over the top with nationalism.
And you definitely don’t have to go to space to get it from your everyday Korean citizen.
Glad she made it back safely or I am sure there would have been some conspiracy on how the US and Japanese collaborated to stifle Korea’s space program.
#4.
According to a poll in Money Today, only 20.9% of 600 or so adult Koreans polled considered her as an astronaut.
http://www.moneytoday.co.kr/vi.....;outlink=1
OK, the number of Koreans polled isn’t big, but still it gives one an idea of how some Koreans view this mission and Miss Yi.
In addition NASA labeled her as a “Space Flight Participant” while the Russians have coined the term “Scientific Exploration Visitor”, which IMO are polite ways of calling her a “space tourist”
You’re right when you said that this doesn’t herald the beginning of the Korean space program. The Korean space program was rolling on even before Miss Yi was selected, and this whole Korean in space thing is more of an event to showcase Korea and the fact that a Korean was sent into space than a true manned space program. I mean check out the “performances” she did during her stay in the ISS. If this was a true space program, why do the “performances”? Also it’s not like she participated in the overall ISS program.
Ok, guys, I think everybody knows what you think. Do you feel the need to repeat it over and over? Do you think your opinions are that important? How about just saying, “Good that she made it back.”
I don’t see you saying that, colontos.
And didn’t you join in on the criticism of Metro’s post which I might add was VERY supportive of the “space flight participant”?
Maybe Colontos changed his mind.
I’m glad she got back safely, and while not as much nor as vocally as the Metropolitician, I’ve also been disappointed with all the hate on Soyeon going around. He has a write-up about it over on his blog: my favourite line is
“If people are really concerned, as some say they are, with Korea’s national image, then they would stop behaving as they are. . . . It is absolutely shocking to see how eagerly and viciously so many of her fellow Koreans try to tear her down.”
It’s a little embarrassing when people get so mean about a scientist who did her best within the constraints of the role Russia’s space program allowed her.
I wish her good luck now that she’s back earthside. She might need it, along with a heaping helping of graciousness.
Indeed roboseyo.
As a korean american geek, I feel nothing but pride for her accomplishments. Barely 30 and already the country’s first astronaut.
Korean plastic bimbos and male chauvinists can eat their hearts out.
I didn’t criticize the post because it was supportive of Soyeon. I could mostly care less about the whole space thing; my main reaction has been along the lines of “She going to space? Good for her. Next post.” The thing that bothers me is about how you guys so obviously get off on taking any opportunity to criticize it. I attacked Metro not because he (creepily) supports Soyeon but because he was behaving disgracefully and immaturely.
First question, is she a scientist? Which leads to the second question, why do you think that there are “constraints” here?
I don’t think anyone here in the Hole is being “mean” to her. The whole Korean in space thingy is a ridiculous and laughable program to say the least, and things like this will attract its detractors. It’s a shame that Miss Yi has to be caught in the middle of all of this.
Well that’s one thing we can both agree to.
As I said, the program does and will have its detractors. And they including me will say their two cents. I don’t see anything wrong with that as long as it doesn’t personally attack Miss Yi.
Besides, now she’s back in terra firma, I don’t think any of the guest bloggers or the chief blogger himself for that matter will be posting anything about this Korean in space thing, so you may get your wish. That is unless you know who decides to fire an another round of “Let’s protect Soyeon’s honor”.
Yes, she’s a scientist. She has a Ph.D from KAIST, which is more than I and most of her critics can say, and she did perform experiments in space, she did more than just wave flags and spell words with hangeul blocks, and she probably would have happily forgone the flag-waving if the program’s sponsor would have let her, just like she said she’d rather travel to space with one of her scientific colleagues than with a pop-star.
By constraints, I mean an astronaut not raised and trained in/by the Russian space program, on her first space flight, obviously will not be playing a crucial role in piloting or running the shuttles or the space station — that’d probably take a heckuva lot more time and training than she’s had, and that’s only if Russia (or any country’s space program) would ever allow a non-national to be privy to the kinds of guarded technical knowledge necessary to perform crucial functions.
So within the constraints set by the Russian space program (the ones that got Ko Sang busted and expelled), she fulfilled the role they allowed her as well as anybody could.
As for why she was in space: criticize the program, but not her, and my comment was more of a general “why is ANYBODY coming down so hard on her” than one directed at any Marmite in particular. Sending a Korean to space is kind of like building a hundred story building in Seoul — other than what bragging rights can be claimed when they entered the game relatively late, one can argue against its necessity, but complaining about spending that $25 million when LMB is about to blow $20-50 BILLION on a half-baked canal scheme that won’t achieve any of its intended goals seems like a serious misallocation of outrage to me.
Ha!
Slashdot’s headline says “The crew, including Commander Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, are reportedly in good health.”
http://science.slashdot.org/ar.....19/1420230
Is that idiotism or spite, or am I being paranoid?
#13
“Sending a Korean to space is kind of like building a hundred story building in Seoul — other than what bragging rights can be claimed when they entered the game relatively late…”
So-yeong mentioned the primary reason during her third interview with the Metropolitician–experience in preparation for South Korea’s space program. Seoul plans to complete its space station in the near future (by the end of this year, if I remember correctly), and will start putting its own rockets into space. I don’t know of plans for a manned space flight, but the ISS program is probably in preparation for just such a possibility.
Even though there were limits to what she could do while flying aboard Russia’s ship, she received valuable training (far more than a “space tourist” would receive but less than is necessary to pilot a ship–not all astronauts nowadays pilot the ships) and she saw first hand how one of the world’s space leaders handles its operations both on the ground and in space.
#15:
Korea is gonna put its own Space Station into orbit later this year??? LOL, I’m gonna play the devil’s advocate here and say - NOT BLOODY LIKELY!
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I think that those of us who chide Ms. Yi continue to do so because at the end of the day she is supposed to represent the cream of the korean crop. Let’s see…out of an applicant pool of 30,000 she is supposed to embody the finest physical and mental specimen that korea has to offer. That being said, is it no wonder then that some of us find the end result somewhat insulting to the embodiment of the korean peoples when from all accounts is seems that she was sent into space to perform a variety of silly and immature PR gags and other nationalistic trifle? I mean, really? Assembling “I love korea” with baby blocks??? *GAGS*
Well, hundreds of South Koreans seem to care enough about her flight to have gone to Russia to wait for the capsule to land.
It’s not just about nationalism, you know. Have any of you spoken to kids about this? They are truly excited about this.
As an educator and scientist (once upon a time…), I couldn’t be happier for South Korean kids, particularly the girls. They needed a role model like her, someone who’ll make more young girls realize that its ok to like science.
well said, someguy. Young Korean girls need as many heroes as we can find them, ere they decide to idolize the Wondergirls instead.
Metro was right about the Korean media misinterpreting So-yeon’s interviews with him. My impression was that she was mainly joking about making money with this opportunity, especially since she was not yet selected to be going up at the time.
Here is another Korean article suggesting that she was in it for the money. If you do not think that was implied in the article, then read the comments about the article. There just seems to be a lot of people out there who are green with envy.
http://kr.news.yahoo.com/servi.....wssetid=83
I don’t know which moron thought that riding a Russian rocket after paying hugh amount of money did anything for Korea’s space program.
Space tourist is the correct term. She was not an astronaut. She was a cargo.
A f***ing heavy one at that.
The money could have spent in buying rocket fuel, engine or foreign contractors to jump start Korea’s space program.
This type of “showmanship” is what is wrong with Korea. All show and no meat.
roboseyo,
LMB’s canal will employ all young people in the country. No money goes outside.
After built up, the canal will attract many tourists. Finally tourists will have something other than Korean kisaengs to see.
The canal is also important in transporting troops and supplies in the wartime. This is the one of main reason why Seoul-Pusan freeway was built under president Park’s rule.
#13 - “Disgracefully and immaturely.”
Ah, the pots once again calling the kettle black. So you think it’s fair to just take those shots? I guess if I respond to them, I’m going to get blamed for “starting it” again, when in fact, no one was having this debate until you brought it up again.
I seem to remember Andy snidely asking, “And what are you going to do about it?” and giving a 5-point, specific response, to which he got all snitty because I met his snark with snark.
Again, I’ll get blasted here for “starting it”, but in actuality, you revived this BS with your unnecessary little remarks up there. I’ve decided to stop taking groundless insults and letting them stand without response, so if you want to dredge it up again, feel free.
Otherwise, just let it fucking lie.
“I seem to remember Andy snidely asking, “And what are you going to do about it?” and giving a 5-point, specific response, to which he got all snitty because I met his snark with snark.
Again, I’ll get blasted here for “starting it”, but in actuality, you revived this BS with your unnecessary little remarks up there. I’ve decided to stop taking groundless insults and letting them stand without response, so if you want to dredge it up again, feel free.
Otherwise, just let it fucking lie.”
It’s too early for reruns. Marmot, step in and nip this in the bud. Metropolitician, get a thicker skin.
You have to wonder at South Korean news headlines.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ww.....22816.html
Why can’t they say, “The astronauts are now undergoing routine tests that are common-place after each and every re-entry.”
#23.
Right, I wished you luck in your campaign and hoped that the Dong-A won’t retaliate against you and you call that “snitty”.
What’s wrong with you, Metro?
And why is it that you can’t take any criticism of the program?
What *is* wrong with you? And how can you show your face again so soon after that disgraceful meltdown?
I seriously think he’s on the verge of a psychotic break. Maybe we should leave him alone.
16 Haksaeng: awesome. I hope Korea’s space program goes well, and I hope Soyeon’s experience helps the program along enough that people start giving her her propers. If that’s the case, there ARE more than just bragging rights at stake, and bully for her!
Baduk:
“LMB’s canal will employ all young people in the country. No money goes outside.”
That’s if (and a mighty big if) all the unemployed young university graduates who majored in Web Design and whatnot are willing to swallow their pride and do DDD jobs. Otherwise, it’ll have to be more immigrant workers brought in to do the heavy lifting/digging, and it amounts to a makework project that offers no long term solution to Korea’s structural economic problems. I also doubt the income it generates would even offset its maintenance costs, much less pay for its construction.
>After built up, the canal will attract many tourists. Finally tourists will have something other than Korean kisaengs to see.
The “If you build it, they will come” philosophy didn’t work for the Uljin airport. Why would it work this time? Worldwide surveys have not returned overwhelming public opinion that “I’d love to go to Korea, if only there were a canal to help me get around,” and sending a canal through a country that’s 70% mountainous, and surrounded by water on three sides (that is, one with no NEED for a sea route) just seems frivolous.
I’d love to see Korea’s provinces made more accessible to tourists through improved rail and bus service, multilingual signage in train and bus stations, and such. That wouldn’t cost 20-50 billion that might or might not be made back.
>The canal is also important in transporting troops and supplies in the wartime. This is the one of main reason why Seoul-Pusan freeway was built under president Park’s rule.
And a freeway takes about 5 hours from Seoul to Busan without traffic (more during Chusok); a canal would take many times that, especially with larger ships. I think LMB would be better off improving the rail and highway systems, maybe adding extra lanes, which would be cheaper, require less maintenance, and lead to faster transit.
Also: in my humble opinion:
If LMB’s really so concerned about his legacy, I’d advise him to get together with the opposition party and negotiate a 20 year education reform plan that both can approve and sign off on (so that it doesn’t simply get buried by the next administration), one that involves bringing in international experts for analysis and advice, and implementing their recommendations in reasonably spaced-out stages.
A single five-year presidency isn’t long enough to make changes that’ll stick, and fixing the systemic flaws in Korea’s current education system would prepare Korea for the future much more effectively than a canal project. It’d also win the admiration and appreciation of education-obsessed Korea (legacy, baby!). If the year were 1965, I’d say “go LMB!” on the canal project, but in 2008, physical infrastructure isn’t what Korea needs anymore.
Finally: Jesus, Marmites! Lay off Met, he’s defending his friend. It wasn’t funny last time, and it isn’t funny this time, either. There’s no need for a Comment Board Of Passchendaele redux.
#24 - Thought I’d get blamed for it. Get a reality check. “Nip it in the bud”? Yep, at comment #13. I’m not in need of a thicker skin in this case. If you want BS to stop, then simply STFU, as I was doing, in not jumping into this conversation for the sake of reviving old BS.
So, I respectfully ask that if you don’t want to start some shit, simply STFU and don’t start it.
Is that really so hard to understand? Or calling my interest in defending my friend “creepy” and my responses “disgraceful” and “immature” are somehow neutral commentary?
I love how the mud flinging starts from one of the participants in comment #13, but the onus of responsibility to not dredge up the past flamewar falls on me when I point this out in comment #23.
Are we living in the same reality? Mudflingers and flameslingers — it’s squashed. If you don’t like me, leave it. I don’t like you, either. But don’t take a parting shot and act like I started it when I shoot back.
Capish?
#28. One voice of sanity. I decide to keep quiet and not get drawn into the obvious attempts to get me back into the shouting match, and I’m now I “can’t show my face” after my “psychotic break.”
ANYWAY. I think the level of the commentary on the Hole is self-evident. Won’t get drawn into it anymore, other than to say to stop taking potshots and then feigning shock and outrage when I respond. The only people trolling for a flamewar (and now castigating me for NOT entering the fray — #27) are you guys.
How about keeping on topic, not taking cheap shots at me when I wasn’t even talking? The only reason I’m even talking is to ask a few certain people to stop trying to start shit up again.
Not so hard, right?
It wouldn’t be so hard if you weren’t such a lightning rod for ridicule, you whining sop of a drama queen. roboseyo was doing just fine at calming things down, but no…you just had to swing back in like superputz and try to have a grandiose last speech, telling everyone to shut up and demanding that that be the last word. So long as you insist on your pathetic displays, the peanut gallery will likely not fall silent.
Linkd: try again without the phrases “whining sop of a drama queen” and “superputz” and “pathetic” if you want to be on the “calming things down” team instead of the “stirring things up” team.
Met: pretty please take the high ground and don’t disdain to bother with any more of the petty digs?
Seriously, do we need to do this again?
Cut the shit.
Seriously.
It wouldn’t be so hard if you weren’t such a lightning rod for ridicule. roboseyo was doing just fine at calming things down, but no…you just had to swing back in and try to have a grandiose last speech, telling everyone to shut up and demanding that that be the last word. So long as you insist on your displays, the peanut gallery will likely not fall silent.
…falls silent…
“Seriously, do we need to do this again?
Cut the shit.
Seriously.”
Thank you. Your blog deserves better than what was about to be served up again.
Now I’ll “shut the fuck up” as I was so eloquently told to do.
“It’s too early for reruns. Marmot, step in and nip this in the bud. Metropolitician, get a thicker skin.”
Maybe I owe Metro a little more explanation.
Re: nip “this” in the bud, I meant the pissy back-and-forth that earlier got out of hand, not just your #23 comments.
Re: get a thicker skin, I meant that as a guest blogger in the spotlight, you don’t need to sink to the level of those attacking you.
I didn’t mean that the flame war was mostly your fault, Metro, so sorry if there was misunderstanding.
Did someone shoot the comments sheriff?
@30 - “(and now castigating me for NOT entering the fray — #27)”
Step 1: Learn English.
Step 2: Read my comment again, multiple times if necessary.
Step 3: Understand my comment.
Step 4: Ignore it, if you don’t like it.
roboseyo,
Thank you for your polite reply. I appreciate your point of view and some of them are correct.
Baduk: thanks in kind for your courteous response. I really enjoy this site when everyone plays nice. (and that goes for everyone else on this thread, too, and especially RJK for his stitch in time saving nine, and Linkd, for being generous enough to actually follow my tip.)
have a great Tuesday, everyone.