Remote elementary school gets huge lift from space center

Hong Ah-jin, 12, a fifth grader living on the remote Oinaro Island in Goheung County of South Jeolla Province, dreams of becoming a sommelier. She lives 400 meters from the Naro Space Center, the cradle of Korea`s space development.

At the entry of the center is an astronomy museum built by Korea Aerospace Research Institute. The girl had attended a branch school until March this year, and since she had few friends, she enjoyed visiting the museum.

In spring last year, she heard from a museum employee that astronauts most want to consume wine, and has since dreamed of becoming a sommelier. To children living on the island, going to space is their dream.

The third and final launch of the Naro (KSLV-I) rocket, Korea`s first space launch vehicle, will come in four days. Bongnae Elementary School, which Hong attends, held a class on the Naro launch for 53 students from grades three to six. Teachers explained why Korea has to become a space powerhouse and the meaning of the launch, and students expressed their thoughts via letters, poems and pictures.

Hong wrote in her letter, "Naro, I was taught not to fear failure in accomplishing my dream. You tumbled twice and will succeed this time. If you succeed, I will not give up hope on my dream."

The Naro rocket has given dreams and hope to these students. Bongnae is the sole elementary school on the island with 73 students. No one had noticed the island until the space center was built. The site of Korea`s first space launch vehicle has been built there, and the rocket was named after the island. Growing into a popular tourist destination, the island attracts 300,000 people a year. Children have swelled with pride.

The launch dream has failed so far, however. In the first launch in August 2008, one side of the paring failed to separate, and in the second launch in June 2010, the rocket exploded in air 137 seconds after lift-off. The children felt discouraged. Bongnae principal Song Tae-geun said, "We decided to open a special class because our students really hope the launch will succeed. They expressed their wishes in words."

shjung@donga.com