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| The choir from the School of Global Sarang, a private school in Seoul catering to children from multiracial backgrounds, performs during the fourth Korea Multicultural Youth Awards ceremony at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Chung Ah-young
It was the coldest day of this winter with the mercury plunging to minus 7.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul. On the contrary to the freezing cold outside, some 100 participants, including award winners, their families and dignitaries, heated up the ceremony for the fourth Korea Multicultural Youth Awards at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul, Thursday.
Most of winners traveled a long way from their provincial regions to attend the ceremony, braving heavy traffic congestion.
But the faces of the winners didn't look fatigued but rather were full of joy and excitement, showing their pride and anticipation.
Congratulatory messages from Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hee-jung elated the participants for overcoming all obstacles and using their passion to pursue their dreams.
"Students with multicultural backgrounds will play an important role in boosting the power of the nation in future," Kim said.
Judges and other dignitaries also shared the importance of their roles for the future of Korea.
After each name of the winners was announced, their faces brightened with big smiles.
Their talents vary from languages and arts to music, sports and extraordinary leadership. The winners have different cultural backgrounds and have different goals but have something common -- passion and hope.
It is clear that their backgrounds are crucial assets in the pursuit of their dreams in a global era where "diversity" is emphasized.
After the ceremony, a special performance of a choir from the School of Global Sarang graced the finale of the ceremony with cheerful songs.
After the hour-long event, the award winners exchanged their experiences with each other while having dinner.
Undaunted by obstacles, their spirit in pursuing their dreams struck the hearts of all participants.
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| Foreign diplomats, including Ecuadorian Ambassador to Korea Oscar Herrera Gilbert, left, applaud during the award ceremony. Several ambassadors participated in the ceremony, including Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nafti, Philippine Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, and Bangladeshi Ambassador Zulfiqur Rahman. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
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| Im Su-hwan, right, the grand prize winner of the fourth Korea Multicultural Youth Awards, poses with Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hee-jung during the award ceremony, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
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| Rep. Jasmine Lee of the Saenuri Party |
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| Heo Yeong-jae, left, the winner of the Special jury award, poses with Kim Joon-sik, honorary chairman of Asian Friends and head judge of the Korea Multicultural Youth Awards. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
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