Judge's comment: 'Diversity will be important value in future Korea'

The judges for the ninth Korea Multicultural Youth Awards pose after the evaluation of award applicants at the office of The Korea Times in central Seoul, Nov. 26. They are, from left, Ju Gun-ihl, a representative of Seoul YMCA's civil society movement department; Cha Yun-kyung, former president of the Korean Association for Multicultural Education and professor at Hanyang University; Lee Nam-sook, chairwoman of Asian Friends; Kim Joon-sik, honorary chairman of Asian Friends; Sohn Wie-soo, advisor to Woongjin Foundation; and Jasmine Lee, chair of the Korea Cultural Diversity Organization. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Kim Joon-sik

My congratulations go out to the winners of the Korea Multicultural Youth Awards this year. I was pleased to see children from interracial families studying hard and doing volunteer activities in their schools and local communities.

The Korea Multicultural Youth Awards, which began in 2012, marked the ninth of its kind this year. Recipients of the first Korea Multicultural Youth Awards would have already become university students, performed military service or begun their careers. All of you are the pride and future of Korea.

Four Korean Americans won seats in the U.S. Congress elections last month. Some of them are from what we Koreans call "interracial families." But, as the United States is by its very nature a multiethnic, multicultural nation, Americans would not use such a term.

The situation is similar in Canada and Australia. In European countries belonging to the European Union, 15 to 25 percent of people are immigrants. These nations are all advanced countries.

When examining applications submitted by children from interracial families, we, the judges, wished to give the awards to all applicants as all children are growing up so well. I am sure that multicultural children in Korea will become great persons in all walks of life. There are already many people from interracial families who have achieved success in various sectors such as sports, entertainment and politics.

It is widely said that the 21st century is the era of networks. What people need in this era is diversity, and diversity comes from multiple cultures. You, who have grown by experiencing multiple cultures of your father and mother, are the ones with creativity and diversity.

The Korean government and society have been working to support children from interracial families to take advantage of their multicultural backgrounds. For its part, The Korea Times has held the Korea Multicultural Youth Awards.

I once again would like to heartily congratulate the award winners and their parents. I also want to express my gratitude to The Korea Times. Thank you.

Kim Joon-sik, the honorary chairman of Asian Friends, heads the jury for the ninth Korea Multicultural Youth Awards.

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