The Ministry of Science and Technology says that the Korea Aerospace Research Institute has signed an agreement with the Russian Space Agency to provide for a Korean astronaut to board the Soyuz spacecraft.

Korea will reportedly pay 18 billion won to Russia for supporting the space project.

With conclusion of the agreement, the timetable is now set for the first Korean to travel in space.

Meanwhile, the astronaut selection process continues, with a special Christmas gift coming for two candidates, as they will be named on December 25th.

The two will undergo training at Russia’s Gagarin Space Center starting in March.

But only one will become the first Korean in space, boarding the Russian Soyuz spacecraft in April 2008 and staying at the International Space Station for seven to eight days.