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          Name: Lee Esther                                                                                                                  n early 2015, after completing the        now, and we are becoming a part of USK.
          Origin: South Korea                                                                                                               Indonesian language course within 7          In addition, there are Aceh people who
          Nationality: Korean
          Status: Vice director of Korea Culture Center                                                                                     months, my husband and I came to Aceh.    love Koreans and Korean culture, so we live
          Aceh Lecturer of Fine Art                                                                                                         It felt like a long time ago and was like a   here without feeling like it is a foreign country.
          Email: esther1313@hanmail.net
                                                                                                                                       Idream. That experience was so different       Before we came, a teacher from Korea
          ACHIEVEMENTS                                                                                                                   from the one that I had when I first came to   taught taekwondo, and now the students
          2016-2022                                                                                                                      Aceh several times in 2008. The sky was full of   have become great instructors. Taekwondo
          Directing Art Exhibition and Creative Art                                                                                      sheep-like clouds, and the vast paddy fields on   activities are still actively underway. Moreover,
          Competition as Director of Esther’s Fine Art
                                                                                                                                         the way from the airport to Universitas Syiah   there were also teachers who taught Korean
          2015-2022
          Organizing Korea Culture Center Aceh Events                                                                                    Kuala (USK) looked serene. Since then, Aceh   at the Korean Cultural Center and language
          and Korea Camp                                                                                                                 has become our home and a hometown we        institutes. My husband and I, who came in
          2015-2020                                                                                                                      want to visit wherever we go.                later, are grateful for the opportunity to share
          Guest Lecturer at USK                                                                                                             The first time I set foot in Aceh was in May   our little knowledge and skills in art and the
                                                                                                                                         2008. The Aceh at that time was still strewn   Korean language. In the meantime, we held the
          2020
          Speaker of Art Seminar “Arts in Our Life”                                                                                      with tsunami debris and that broke my heart.   public art exhibition annually, and also conduct
          2008-2011                                                                                                                      In October 2008, after attending the invitation   Korean language education and cultural
          Speaker and Organizer of Art Education                                                                                         from the Department of Architecture USK, I   exchange activities. Currently, Sejong Institute
          Seminar for Acehnese Teachers and Lecturer                                                                                     started to hold art seminars and meet students   is being prepared to host a more professional
          at Architecture USK
                                                                                                                                         at the university and through the invitation of   Korean language education and cultural
          2005
          Establish Fine Art School at University of                                                                                     the governor’s wife. I met beautiful children   academy.
          Nations, Jeju                                                                                                                  from Aceh. They are all adults now, but their   Looking back, I can compare in my
                                                                                                                                         sparkling eyes were deeply imprinted in my   memory how much Aceh has developed, and
                                                                                                                                         heart. Due to that encounter, I started going to   imagine how Aceh will develop in the future.
                                                                                                                                         Aceh again on a short-term basis every year for   We experience becoming more and more
            Lee Esther                                                                                                                   an art seminar and then my husband and I have   Acehnese, although we are still lacking in the
                                                                                                                                                                                      Acehnese language. Even if I happen to go to
                                                                                                                                         been living in Aceh since 2015 till now.
                                                                                                                                            The first art class was started at the    Korea by chance, I believe I will find a desire
                                                                                                                                         entrance of the old Office of International   to return to Aceh as soon as possible. If the
                                                                                                                                         Affairs office. Among the students I was with   time comes later when I have to leave, I will
                                                                                                                                         at that time, Silvia and Tete, who are now   probably be very sad. But no matter when the
                                                                                                                                         developing their expertise as painters and art   time comes, I want to enjoy my current life in
                                                                                                                                         teachers, are still with me, and my husband   Aceh and do my best. Why? Because Aceh is
                                                                                                                                         teaches Korean at a language center up until   my home, and Aceh is in my heart. []





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