Yi So-yeon

Yi So-yeon's achievement as the first South Korean in space is a historic first that has never been repeated. She remains the only South Korean citizen to have flown to space, a record that stands as a testament to her pioneering role. Her flight inspired a generation of young scientists in South Korea, particularly women, and she has been recognized with the Order of Civil Merit, the nation's highest civilian honour. Her legacy is defined not just by her single mission, but by her continued advocacy for human spaceflight and her work in education and business.