You’ve had quite the career, first as an engineer, then a disability support worker and now as an artist and board member for Kiwi Alumni Korea. Can you tell us about this journey and what has led you to where you are today?
After graduating I worked as a civil engineer and wanted to experience a more people-oriented career. Before leaving engineering, I worked four days a week and spent Friday’s volunteering for a charity that helped homeless and other vulnerable people. I really enjoyed this work, and it led me to look for support work roles. I eventually started working as a mental health support worker. I did that job for almost a year before moving to Korea to be closer to family. Life in Korea has been incredibly full and rewarding. Currently I am transitioning from disability support work to working fully remotely via online English tutoring. I am also focusing on my creative work, which is watercolour painting and digital illustration. In Korea I've been lucky to participate in many group exhibitions.
This is my second year as a Kiwi Alumni board member. I discovered Kiwi Alumni through the embassy and met the other members at an event at the Ambassador's residence soon after I arrived in Korea. We organise many events, such as networking nights, social dinners, Matariki picnic at Han River, and an annual 'alumni night' at the Ambassador's residence. We also collaborate with the University of Auckland, Education New Zealand, Kiwi Chamber of Commerce, and ANZA (The Australia and New Zealand Association, Korea). There are plenty of Kiwis and Aussies living in Korea and many run businesses here, so we help everyone connect with each other and socialise.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
Right now, I’m supporting a middle school student and giving private English tutoring. I've been supporting this student for just over a year now, and it's been rewarding to see them gain confidence and independence. In my tutoring work I love sharing my love of language and literature. I teach both school students and adults, which gives me variety and challenges me to find creative ways to teach.
How did you get into art and what is your creative process behind each piece?
I've loved drawing ever since I was a child, and I've always had a watercolour palette. Making art feels natural and intuitive. It is not only a hobby, but also a way to process and express emotions. I'm drawn to painting landscapes, especially landscapes with mountains. My first series of prints was inspired by the Kepler track. Now that I live in Seoul, I've started to paint cityscapes and explore other subject matter. I still love painting mountains in Korea - luckily for me, most of Korea is covered by mountains! My current project is painting scenes from a cycling trip I did with a visiting Kiwi friend recently. We cycled from Seoul to Busan over nine days along the major rivers and were surrounded by beautiful views!
Now living in Seoul, what led you to make the move to Korea?
It was a combination of wanting a personal gap year, connecting with my grandparents and relatives, wanting to explore careers, and feeling a call to adventure.
What do you enjoy most about living in Korea, and then on the other hand, what do you miss most about living in New Zealand?
I love hiking and exploring rural regions of Korea and learning about the history of each region. I'm improving my Korean language skills to fluency, and I want to fill gaps in my knowledge of Korean history. In Seoul I live in a co-living community, and it's been an amazing experience to live with and learn from people with diverse backgrounds. Most of the opportunities to exhibit my art have come from having a large community of Korean and international creatives around me. I think a perk of being in a big city is that you can find many niche communities to belong to. Overall, the cultural and social life of Seoul is a highlight.
I miss Aotearoa's clean air and the ever-present nature in every street. I never thought grass berms along a footpath would be something I missed! I was really lucky to have a backyard with feijoa trees and a vegetable garden. Also, it was easier to live more sustainably. I'm still not completely adjusted to the business and city-ness of Seoul. I miss many random things like farmer's markets, birdsong, cycling to the beach, and being the only person on a hiking track or a trail in a park.
What were your highlights from your time at UC?
My group of classmates! We really supported each other through the years. Playing cello for MUSOC's musicals was a lot of fun. I went every week to the $4 vegetarian curry lunches by the Higher Taste Society - so delicious! Another highlight was my final year project on colonising Mars and mapping its resources.
Check out Lynn’s art online at www.LynnKim.art or on Instagram at @LynnKimArtist
