Culture tour guide finds joy in volunteer work

By Kim Se-jeong

Lee Hyea-kyoung, 64, is a volunteer culture tour guide for the city of Seoul.

For the past eight years, she has guided tours of major city sites. Her main clients are Japanese-speaking travelers.

She said it has been a great adventure for a stay-at-home mom and her weekly volunteering has provided new joy in her life.

Meeting her in the city hall lobby, she was dressed in a red jacket with a name tag.

“Winter is slow. I only work two days this week,” she said in an interview, Monday, adding that in summer she gets busy.

Earlier that day, she had one appointment with a small group, and in the afternoon, her duty was to roam the city hall building helping any tourist she encountered.

Her volunteering began with her love for the Japanese language.

“I was a housewife in a big family,” she said. “I had 10 people to take care of _ my parents-in-law and six siblings of my husband. And I had my own children.” In 2006, things changed. “That year, it was only me, my father-in-law and my husband left at home. I began to feel lonely and was compelled to do something and the Japanese language came.”

Why Japanese?

Her husband worked as a professional baseball commentator and had many interactions with Japanese colleagues. She often cooked for many Japanese guests at home. “I met many Japanese people during those years but was never able to say a word. I always felt it was a pity.”

Studying a new language in her 50s was not easy, but she persisted. In 2007, she passed the second level of the Japanese language proficiency test. In 2008, she applied for the culture tour guide program and got the opportunity.

“I was happy that I could practice my Japanese,” she said.

On the job, she encountered an unexpected obstacle, which was Korean history.

“With little knowledge about history, it was hard for me,” she said. “I read a lot to keep myself educated and went to many lectures as well. I realized how little I knew about my own history.” Sometimes, she ran into tourists who knew much more than her. “I felt ashamed.” She still tries to read a lot about history.

The job helped her establish a personal relationship with some of her clients. She exchanges emails with some of them after the tour. “And when they come back to Seoul, they request me as a guide, and we meet again. It feels great.”

Now, her volunteer work is more than practicing Japanese. “This enriches my life. I can help people. This is wonderful.”