Multicultural awards on Dec. 13

Jasmine Lee, fifth from left, a Philippine-born lawmaker of the Saenuri Party, and Lois Cruz, sixth from left, the Philippine ambassador to Korea, pose with The Korea Times’ President-Publisher Park Moo-jong, fourth from left, and other judges of the inaugural Multicultural Korea Youth Awards organized by the newspaper after a preparation meeting in downtown Seoul, Monday. From left are Shim Jae-yun, The Korea Times’ political editor; Cha Yun-kyung, president of the Korean Association for Multicultural Education; Kim Joon-sik, head of Asian Friends; Park; Lee; Cruz; Joo Gun-ihl, a representative from the Seoul YMCA; and Oh Young-jin, the managing editor of the newspaper. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 13 at the Korea Press Center. / Korea Times photo by Lee Tae-hoon

The Korea Times will host the inaugural Multicultural Korea Youth Awards at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul on Dec. 13, with the aim of promoting diversity and supporting talented children from multi-ethnic families.

The recipients of the awards will be selected by a panel of judges including experts, NGO representatives and envoys as well as Philippine-born Jasmine Lee, a lawmaker for the ruling Saenuri Party.

The awardees will be non-Korean citizens who have lived in Korea for at least five years and children with at least one non-Korean parent.

In the preparation meeting Monday, Luis Cruz, Philippine Ambassador to Korea, stressed that there should be more focus on the life realities of “Kopinos,’’ or children born to Korean fathers and Filipino mothers.

Lee, who also attended the meeting, wanted the awards to highlight the lives of refugees and also Koreans who have made efforts to eliminate racism and help multiracial families.

Others serving on the judging panel are Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea Watte Walawwe Tissa Wijeratne; Kim Joon-sik, head of civic group Asian Friends; Cha Yun-kyung, president of the Korean Association for Multicultural Education; Joo Gun-ihl, an official from the Seoul YMCA; and Rev. Kim Hae-sung, who heads the non-profit organization Global Village.

Kim Kum-lae, minister of gender equality and family, will also attend the event to present the awards to the 10 winners. The recipients will include elementary, middle and high school students and also individuals representing volunteer groups and other organizations.

Each winner will receive 1 million won (about $920) and be given the opportunity to work as honorary reporters for The Korea Times.

More information will be available on the websites of The Korea Times and agencies under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Recommendations will be accepted until Nov. 30. <The Korea Times/Lee Tae-hoon>