Award winners show pride in their diversity

Winners of the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards celebrate with dignitaries during an award ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Monday. The participants included Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hee-jung, fourth from left in the second row; ruling Saenuri Party Rep. Jasmine Lee, third from left in the second row; Rep. Chun Soon-ok of the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, fifth from left in the second row; and Korea Times President-Publisher Lee Chang-sup, sixth from left in the third row. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Kim Rahn

Bad weather was nothing to the winners of the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards.

It was minor compared to the challenges they have faced and overcome, such as prejudice and financial hardship. The snow melted before the proud and confident children who gathered for the award ceremony at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul, Monday.

Some 100 participants, including award winners, their families and dignitaries, began to pack the venue long before the ceremony began.

The awardees were full of energy and excited after being selected as outstanding youngsters. Congratulatory messages, smiles and bouquets of flowers added joy to the festive mood.

Their multiracial backgrounds were something they were proud of, as it gave these children special talents, features and opportunities in a global era where “diversity” is becoming more important.

Filipina girl band MICA / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

In a congratulatory message, Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said, “The development of science and technology has made the whole world a global village. I have no doubt young students with various cultural backgrounds will be valuable assets for our future.”

Special performances followed the award ceremony.

A choir from Jiguchon School sang a song, drawing much applause, while Mica, a four-member Filipina girl group that was included in the top eight at the audition program “Superstar K 6,” gave a professional performance.

Even late into the evening after the hour-long ceremony and following dinner, the award winners did not leave but continued to chat with each other, exchanging their experiences.

To them, facing diversity and new people were nothing challenging. This is what they are good at, and what they enjoy.

Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hee-jung poses with Park Ji-han, a sophomore at Daekyeong Commercial High School in Seoul who won the top prize, the Gender Equality and Family Minister Award. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Korea Times President-Publisher Lee Chang-sup celebrates with Kaya Chopra, left, from Itaewon Elementary School in Seoul and Shin Ye-won from Daegu Jangsan Elementary School in Daegu, the winners of the Outstanding Elementary Student Awards. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

2013 Miss Korea second runner-up Choi Song-e poses with Hwang Do-dam, a student from the School of Global Sarang, a winner of the Outstanding Middle School Student Award. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Rep. Jasmine Lee of the ruling Saenuri Party / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk