Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Korea’s rising multicultural youth population offers glimpse of more inclusive future

Good afternoon, everyone. I am Jung Goo-chang, vice minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. I extend my sincere congratulations to The Korea Times on the hosting of the 14th Global Korea Awards. First, I would like to express my gratitude to President Oh Young-jin of The Korea Times and all members of the organization for your hard work in preparing this meaningful event. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Vice Mayor 1 of Seoul Metropolitan Government Kim Tae-kyoon, as well as to the ambassadors and distinguished guests from Korea and abroad, for honoring this event with your presence despite your busy schedules. The Global Korea Awards seek to nurture young people from multicultural backgrounds as global talent and contribute to creating a more inclusive, healthy and vibrant multicultural society. Since 2012, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has supported the awards and presented a ministerial commendation. I would like to congratulate all of today’s award recipients, including Selma Naciri, who is receiving the grand prize. I will continue to support

Nov 27, 2025By Park Ung

Korea’s rising multicultural youth population offers glimpse of more inclusive future

Step into the future you envision

Hello, my name is Jeong Hun-do, and I am here to speak as one of the judges. With the addition of the new university student category, all of us on the judging panel approached our work with great care. But for me, as a fellow university student, the process felt especially personal. I felt the weight of evaluating people my own age — or even those with more experience — and the responsibility that comes with being a young judge who can more deeply listen to and empathize with their stories. As I read through the applications and resumes, what I felt — regardless of the evaluation — was admiration and respect. Each form represented a life far too big to fit on a few sheets of paper. From elementary school students to university students, every applicant was chasing a dream and striving to prove themselves within their own generation. And this feeling was shared by every judge. Although every judge evaluated the applicants fairly and objectively, we could all sense the quiet encouragement that surfaced whenever a student’s name was called. No matter whose name came up, we found

Nov 27, 2025By Park Ung

InterviewSelma Naciri’s multicultural journey drives her path to diplomacy

When Selma Naciri, an 18-year-old student at Bosung Girls’ High School in Seoul’s Yongsan District, introduces herself, her name often prompts curiosity since it does not sound Korean. Born to a Moroccan father who later became a Korean citizen and a Korean mother, Naciri hopes to bridge the two worlds that shaped her: Korea, where she was born and raised, and Morocco, the country reflected in her surname. “I want to become a diplomat who can contribute to sustainable development that benefits both Korea and Morocco,” Naciri said in an interview with The Korea Times. “Drawing on my multicultural background and years of navigating different cultures and languages, I want to serve as a bridge between the two countries.” Naciri’s ambition — and the reason she chose diplomacy — is rooted in her upbringing. Her experiences navigating multiple cultures and languages have given her a clear sense of purpose and the path she hopes to follow. Born in Itaewon, one of Seoul’s most cosmopolitan neighborhoods, she grew up among friends from many different backgrounds. “Talking wi

Nov 27, 2025By Park Ung

Selma Naciri’s multicultural journey drives her path to diplomacy

Winners of 14th Global Korea Awards — 1

Outstanding elementary school students Leading with responsibility, sharing tradition through music Born to a Cambodian mother and a Korean father, Myeong Soo-min is a fifth grader at Geumsan Elementary School in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and hopes to become a traditional Korean musician. Myeong has performed as a member of a children’s arts troupe at the Chuncheon Cultural Center and joined cultural exchanges abroad, including performing at a children’s arts festival in Toyama Prefecture in Japan. Through exchanges with youth ensembles from abroad, Myeong has broadened his outlook and strengthened his communication skills for the international stage. Beyond his artistic activities, he regularly joins volunteer programs, putting care and cooperation into practice. With these diverse experiences, Myeong hopes to share traditional Korean music with audiences around the world. Multilingual child dreams of saving lives Born to Indian parents, Shrestha Mondal is a second grader at Gwangnam Elementary School in Busan’s Suyeong District and a multilingual speaker fluent in Korean, Englis

Nov 27, 2025By Park Ung

Winners of 14th Global Korea Awards — 2

National Council of Governors of Education Award Aspiring runner races toward dream of joining nat'l team Born to a Korean father and a Filipino mother, Song Jae-yeon is a second-year student at Gyeongan Girls’ Middle School in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, and hopes to become a national track and field athlete. Song balances team workouts with individual practice and values steady, cooperative progress. She won the 3,000-meter race in the girls’ under-15 division and placed second in the 1,500-meter event at the 54th National Junior Sports Festival, showcasing discipline, endurance and focus. Despite injuries and a demanding training schedule, she has remained committed and continued to improve. Song also contributes actively to her school’s athletics program, participating responsibly and supporting her teammates as she works toward representing Korea. Special Jury Award Nursing student turns adversity into strength Born to a Korean father and a Filipino mother, Yoon Young-mee is a fourth-year nursing major at Munkyung College in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, and hopes

Nov 27, 2025By Park Ung

Professor's compliment-rewarding AI wins innovation grand prize

Min Byoung-chul, chair and founder of the Sunfull Foundation and endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University, received the Grand Prize for AI Innovation and Social Contribution at the 18th App Award Korea 2025 for his work on ChatKind. ChatKind is the world’s first compliment-rewarding AI platform, designed to detect positive comments and convert them into measurable social value. Users earn a "kindness score" for encouraging or appreciative language. Employers and schools can then offer tangible rewards such as coupons, paid leave or volunteer hours. For almost 20 years, Min has combated online hate through the Sunfull Movement, a campaign encouraging constructive digital engagement. Striving to replace cruelty with empathy, he has pressed online communities to reconsider their modes of communication. Positioning itself as a new paradigm for human-centered AI, ChatKind seeks to cultivate more constructive engagement in online spaces by combining a sophisticated filter for toxic remarks and hate speech with a mechanism that incentivizes positive contributions. The idea for the progr

Nov 25, 2025By Jung Da-hyun

Professor's compliment-rewarding AI wins innovation grand prize

The Korea Times joins hands with GR Korea to expand global reach

The Korea Times has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GR Korea, a government relations and public affairs service provider. Under the partnership, both parties are set to share their expertise to strengthen their competitiveness in the global market. The three-year agreement outlines a framework for nonbinding collaboration focused on enhancing each party’s competitiveness in international markets. While not a legally enforceable contract, the agreement signals both sides’ intent to purse concrete joint projects in the future. “The two organizations may cooperate in several areas, including knowledge sharing on political trends, major policy development and key industrial issues,” the agreement says. It also calls for co-hosting events, policy forums and networking conferences in Korea and abroad. They committed to maintaining confidentiality regarding any sensitive information shared during the cooperation period. Intellectual property rights for jointly developed materials will be subject to separate agreements, and jointly owned in the absence of such agreements. E

Nov 24, 2025

The Korea Times joins hands with GR Korea to expand global reach

Korean activist recognized by church group for humanitarian work in Gaza

Kim Ah-hyun, 27, an activist who was detained by Israel last month after joining a Gaza aid flotilla, was awarded this year’s Korean Churches Human Rights Award, the oldest human rights prize in Korea, given to those who advance human dignity. The Korean Churches Human Rights Center said Monday that Kim was honored for raising awareness of the suffering of Palestinian refugees and actively taking part in humanitarian relief efforts. Kim, a member of Thousand Madleens to Gaza — a volunteer coalition that sends aid flotillas to challenge the Gaza blockade — is the first Korean to take part in such activities. Last month, she was detained for two days by Israeli authorities in international waters about 220 kilometers off the Gaza Strip and released in a voluntary deportation. “Since Gaza has been officially blockaded since 2009, the sea was the only route in,” Kim said earlier this month. “We sailed not only to reach Gaza, but also to stand in solidarity with the small island communities across East Asian waters.” Kim became interested in social issues from her teenage years a

Nov 20, 2025By Park Ung

Korean activist recognized by church group for humanitarian work in Gaza

Global AI race down to control over hardware, algorithms, data: Flitto CEO

In just a handful of years, artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped how we think and engage with the world. Generative AI has already transformed our digital habits, becoming for many a primary, one-stop source of information. It is remapping the workplace, the classroom, the halls of politics and even the fabric of culture itself. “AI didn’t just change technology; it changed human habits. And once human behavior changes, society moves at an entirely different speed,” said Simon Lee, CEO of Flitto, an AI-powered translation and live interpretation provider. His remarks came Tuesday evening at the Qatari ambassador’s residence in Seoul, during the Corea Image Communication Institution’s (CICI) Korea CQ Forum. Today, the world has moved beyond fascination with the technology’s promise. Leaders now want their companies to stake early claims in the global AI race, with the hope of harnessing its power. The contest to develop and command AI is no longer looming, but is fully underway. This race spans every layer of technology, Lee explained: hardware, algorithms and data. At th

Nov 19, 2025By Park Han-sol

Global AI race down to control over hardware, algorithms, data: Flitto CEO

InterviewFrom fields to fortune: Gangnam District marks five decades of change

Fifty years ago, the newly established Gangnam District — today a major hub of Seoul’s economy and culture — was little more than open fields and farmland. Now the district's mayor, Cho Sung-myung was once a local 18-year-old, growing up as the area around him was being reshaped into a bustling urban landscape. Nearly five decades later, having witnessed Gangnam’s transformation firsthand, Cho takes pride in calling himself “a true Gangnam native” and is already looking ahead to what the next 50 years might bring. “When Gangnam was first developed in the 1970s, the focus was on building as much housing as possible,” Cho said during an interview with The Korea Times. “Cultural, leisure and environmental values were overlooked, but today’s global trend emphasizes quality of life.” Cho believes the district is ready for that shift, pointing to its expanding cultural offerings and growing role as a global medical hub. The 2025 Gangnam Festival, now in its 14th year and featuring programs from music to fashion, highlights this shift. This year’s event to mark the distri

Nov 18, 2025By Park Ung

People & Events

People & Events

Korea’s rising multicultural youth population offers glimpse of more inclusive future

Step into the future you envision

InterviewSelma Naciri’s multicultural journey drives her path to diplomacy

Winners of 14th Global Korea Awards — 1

Winners of 14th Global Korea Awards — 2

Professor's compliment-rewarding AI wins innovation grand prize

The Korea Times joins hands with GR Korea to expand global reach

Korean activist recognized by church group for humanitarian work in Gaza

Global AI race down to control over hardware, algorithms, data: Flitto CEO

InterviewFrom fields to fortune: Gangnam District marks five decades of change

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