AKIPRESS.COM - Having arrived in Seoul from Bishkek in 2003, Aisuluu Ashiralieva has come a long way from working at a factory with a basic knowledge of the Korean language, volunteering, and a Master's degree at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to becoming a member of Seoul Metropolitan Council of the 11th convocation, where she is Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Culture, Sports, and Tourism. In 2018, she received an award for social contribution to local government and in 2022, the 10th Dona Ilbo newspaper award for her contribution to the development of a multicultural society. Earlier, she headed the Association of Culture and Arts of Central Asian Countries. She was the director of public relations for the Korean Baseball Federation, member of the Council of Representatives of Multicultural Families under the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
Read about the difficulties of work in the Seoul City Council, political nuances and promotion of bilateral relations in an interview specially for the AKIpress news agency.
- Thank you for the opportunity to tell us about your unprecedented story for Kyrgyzstan. In July 2022, you took up your duties as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Can you share how intense this work was? Was it difficult?
- That's right, I started working as a Member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council on July 1, 2022 and over the past 2 years I have encountered both the pros and cons of this work. In the political sphere, of course, everything is difficult. It was not easy for me, I am still learning political terms. I study every day (laughs). At the moment, I work in the Committee on Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism. We oversee all issues related to art, sports, tourism. You arrived just at the time when we are having meetings. For several days in a row, our meetings end after 22:00. We are currently reviewing the organizations' reports on their activities, including financial reports, and checking how they used the allocated money. In a few days, we have reviewed 6 organizations. If you know your job, it is very interesting. Since I am the only foreigner on the city council, it is harder for me than for others. However, I see that my Korean colleagues also study hard, study until the morning. And then what can I do? I have to study twice as hard. I try to keep up with them too and study even more intensively. I have already noticed that in my third year of work on the city council, the work has become much more interesting. I am already delving into this area. And when you begin to understand, to figure it out, the work is captivating. Moreover, all our events are related to art. All events held in Seoul in the field of art and culture are our sphere, a very large sphere.
- In May 2024, you visited Bishkek as member of the delegation of the Seoul City Council. Were any specific cooperation projects discussed with the Bishkek City Council and were any joint initiatives implemented after this visit?
- You correctly noted that we visited the Bishkek City Council in May, just 5 months ago. Of course, during the meeting we discussed all areas of cooperation between the two city councils. The Bishkek City Council sent me back with a specific task. Of course, you know that there is a Friendship Park of Kyrgyzstan and Korea in Bishkek. The Bishkek City Council asks us to take a reciprocal measure so that a similar park would appear in Seoul. So the Bishkek City Council entrusted me with an excellent mission (laughs). Of course, this issue cannot be resolved in 5 months. As you noted, there are many parks in Bishkek itself, and here the territory is not so large and every parcel of land is taken into account. Secondly, this issue needs to be negotiated with the Mayor of Seoul. We come from different political parties. So we need to approach this issue diplomatically correctly. However, I am currently thinking about ways to solve it. Even if I can't accomplish it, I can at least start the work, and then someone will continue to implement this initiative.
- How big is the Kyrgyz diaspora in Seoul? Do you participate in projects and events held by the Kyrgyz Embassy in Seoul?
- Before I took this position, I was probably the most active participant of all such actions. Since all the events of the Kyrgyz Embassy could not do without the support of my Aiperi Association. But after I took this position, it is not so much that I physically lack time, but rather that I cannot participate in political events, because, as you know, I represent the Korean party here, not the Kyrgyz one (laughs).
- Given the heavy workload at work, how difficult is it for you to combine your career with family life? How do you manage to find a balance?
- Of course, it is difficult to balance: if work is going well, then the family remains in the background, and if the family comes to the fore, then work lags behind. And it is difficult to manage everything at the same time and maintain the smooth operation of this mechanism. But at the moment, my husband helps me a lot. He understands me, because he sees how much stress I get here, how tired I am. You know, when you give all your time, all your energy to people, you crawl home like a squeezed lemon. When people are stressed, they have to splash it out somewhere. And for me, the only place for this is my home, where I can splash out the burden, the stress. Fortunately, my husband understands this. That is why he took all the household chores into his own hands 2 years ago.
You know, I got into the City Council under the proportional system, i.e. I was not elected by the people, but by the faction, my party. That is why we have work not only in the City Council, but also outside of it. We also work in the constituency, with voters. A very busy work schedule, but there is no reason to complain.
- Having lived in South Korea for over 20 years, what do you think Kyrgyzstan can learn from the South Korean experience? Hard work, perhaps?
- I would say responsibility. I see how these people, when they take on a task, treat it as if it were their own and do everything thoroughly, and not just to get rid of it. And they do each task with great responsibility. When I compare our countries, but frankly speaking, we [people in Kyrgyzstan] lack responsibility. Well, for example, there was such a case. During a visit to a cafe in Kyrgyzstan, they brought me a menu that was not in the best condition, sticky, dirty it was. I asked the waitress why she didn’t clean the menu so that it would be pleasant for the staff and customers. She said: it’s not my responsibility, but the responsibility of the administration. The administration says that it’s the responsibility of others. In a word, they shift responsibility onto each other. Well, it's not that hard to reprint and beautifully package the menu so that the staff would enjoy working with clients, and the visitors would be pleased. This is the responsibility that we lack a little in Kyrgyzstan. I apologize if I offended anyone with my words. In this regard, I have great respect for Korea.
- Considering the great interest of young people in Kyrgyzstan in South Korea and its culture, what advice would you give to young people who want to obtain education in South Korea?
- I would tell them to go ahead. Go wherever you want, but the main thing is to study! I welcome such people who want to study abroad. This is right, we need to borrow such experience and then apply it in our homeland. Young people are eager to get an education abroad and this is encouraging. Of course, it is difficult, but as they say, hard in training, easy in battle! So, study, strive and do not give up!
You know, I am grateful to this country. This country has become my second homeland. I started a family here, got an education. Korea has given me so many opportunities. Why do young people in Kyrgyzstan choose Korea? Because this country is progressing in all respects and does not stop there. This is what Kyrgyzstan should use.
- Thank you very much for the interview! Your persistence, optimism and, as a result, work in the Seoul Metropolitan Council are an inspiring story for all Kyrgyzstanis. We sincerely wish you further success!
The editorial office of AKIpress news agency thanks the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea for organizing this interview, which was prepared as part of the 2024 International Journalists' Invitation Program of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.