Yi So-Yeon is 48 years old as of October 2026. She was born on 2 June 1978.
South Korean engineer who became the first Korean in space when she flew to the ISS in 2008
Did you know?She was originally the backup astronaut but flew when the main candidate was replaced.
Quick facts
Date of birth2 June 1978
Age48
NationalitySouth Korean
BirthplaceGwangju, South Korea
Editor's Take:
Yi So-yeon became a national hero in South Korea. She was chosen in a nationwide contest to fly to space. She trained for a year in Russia. She carried out experiments on the space station. Her return capsule made a rough, steep landing. She later moved to the United States to study business. She now speaks about science and spaceflight. Her flight remains a proud moment in South Korea's space history.
Key Milestones
2006: Selected as an astronaut
2007: Trains in Russia
2008: Flies to the ISS
Yi So-yeon (Korean: 이소연, born June 2, 1978) is a South Korean astronaut and biotechnologist who became the first South Korean to fly into space. Yi was born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea and graduated from KAIST with a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
