Students recognized for multiculturalism

A choir from the School of Global Sarang, a school for children from multiethnic backgrounds based in Guro, Seoul, sings a song to congratulate the winners of the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards during an award ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Kim Se-jeong

Eleven elementary, middle and high school students from diverse ethnic backgrounds received the Korea Multicultural Youth Awards at a ceremony held at the Press Center in downtown Seoul, Monday.

Park Ji-han, a sophomore at Daekyeong Commercial High School in Seoul, won the top prize, the Gender Equality and Family Minister Award.

“I feel happy to be here and to be a winner of the awards,” Park told The Korea Times. He said he was more thrilled as this was the second time he had been put forward for the award.

Other winners included Kaya Chopra, 12, from Itaewon Elementary School in Seoul; Shin Ye-won, 11, from Daegu Jangsan Elementary School in Daegu; Jeon Sung-min, 15, from Semyung School in Daegu; Hwang Do-dam, 16, from the School of Global Sarang in Seoul; Li Na, 19, from Ansan International Business High School in Gyeonggi Province; Kang Dong-il, 18, from Sunchang High School in North Jeolla Province; Choi Su-ho, 15, from Whangdeung Middle School in North Jeolla Province; Jang Da-rae, 17, from Daejeon Foreign Language High School in Daejeon; and Sim In-na, 11, from Seoul Yongsan Elementary School in Seoul. The Woori Danuri club from Sangji Girl’s High School was the group winner.

Hwang Do-dam followed in the footsteps of her sister Hwang Young-yen who won a prize last year.

“I didn’t expect this to happen. I can’t believe this,” she said.

Almost 100 students were put forward in the third annual contest organized by The Korea Times and sponsored by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

The ceremony included cheerful performances by a choir from the School of Global Sarang, which is composed of children with multiracial backgrounds, and girl group MICA from the Philippines.

In a congratulatory message, Kim Hee-jung, minister of gender equality and family, said, “Through this, I see these children build their own future. This is wonderful. I hope to see a future Korean Barack Obama among these winners.”

Lee Chang-sup, president-publisher of The Korea Times, said, “All the winners were recognized for their leadership, talent and voluntary activities. We will continue our support for them to grow as future leaders and this is what this award is about.”

The hall where the award ceremony took place was filled with families and friends of the winners and other guests.

Saenuri Party Rep. Jasmine Lee attended, along with Rep. Chun Soon-ok of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy; Kaman Singh Lama, Nepalese ambassador to Korea; Nikoloz Apkhazava, Georgian ambassador; and Hernani Filomena Coelho da Silva, ambassador of East Timor.

The annual award was launched in 2012 to recognize second generation interracial families for sharing their talent and achievements. Academic achievement, leadership skill and volunteering were three important criteria for the awards. “Some have also proven their qualities in the fields of sports and arts as well,” said Kim Joon-sik, the chairman of Asian Friends, who was chief of the judges.

According to statistics, there are almost 300,000 interracial couples across the country. The number of their children under age 19 is estimated at 200,000.

“I have no doubt that young students from various cultural backgrounds will be valuable assets for our future,” said Prime Minister Chung Hong-won in a video message.

Rep. Lee said, “I see so many children who deserve this award. Diversity is a power of growth and development.” Lee is an immigrant herself, having been born in the Philippines and moving to Korea after marriage.

Rep. Chun said, “I am from an interracial family myself. My niece is married to a Nepalese husband, and she has two children. We are now living in a global village.” Chun has a British husband.

The judges included Kim, Cha Yun-kyung of the Korean Association for Multicultural Education, Lee Yoo-ri of the Vietnam Women’s Union, Choi Jin-young of Seoul YMCA’s Youth Activity Department, Joon Gun-ihl of Seoul YMCA, Lee Seung-hun from Rep. Jasmine Lee’s office; and Kim Hae-sung of Global Sarang, an NGO.