Science aide asks a space travel contest

The minister of science and technology, Oh Myung, asked the Blue House yesterday to conduct a nationwide screening to select Korean astronauts that might be invited to join the crews of U.S. or Russian spacecraft. He proposed the idea as a way of raising interest in science and technology among the public. President Roh Moo-hyun, however, seemed less than impressed with the idea. He told the minister to go back and take public opinion soundings on the idea and consult with the nation’s scientists. He cautioned that the program should not be only a publicity stunt to attract public attention. The minister had proposed regional and national contests to select the would-be astronauts or cosmonauts. Mr. Oh said his idea was an effort to familiarize the public with scientific phenomena such as the absence of gravity in orbit. by Shim Jae-woo