2 hours of jubilation

Dignitaries and winners of the 1st Korea Multicultural Youth Awards pose after the awarding ceremony at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Thursday. The dignitaries included Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Kum-lae; Reps. Jasmine Lee and Yoon Myung-hee of the Saenuri Party; Asian Friends Chairman Kim Joon-sik; ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary-General Chung Hae-moon; Uzbek Ambassador Vitali Fen, dean of the diplomatic corps here; British Ambassador Scott Wightman; and Korea Times President-Publisher Park Moo-jong. The Korea Times inaugurated the annual awards. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

About 30 minutes ago before the start of the 1st Multicultural Youth Awards ceremony, the hall on the 19th floor of the Korea Press Center was all but deserted.

A group of volunteers sat at the reception table at the doors to the hall, with final checks being made on a big projector and public address system.

One organizer wondered aloud, “Will these seats be filled?”

His uneasiness was somehow eased when a group of students appeared, checked in and sat down.

More students and parents showed up, taking their seats.

In a matter of minutes leading to the start of the two-hour event, the seating was filled with some people standing. Dignitaries ― ambassadors, lawmakers and a minister ― also showed up.

The pre-ceremony anxiety quickly turned into a festive mood.

Awards were given, with recipients being all smiles and parents feeling proud.

But anybody there could feel the vibrancy that the awards carried. It’s about our future ― a multicultural society with those awarded set to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Speeches made by Rep. Jasmine Lee of the ruling Saenuri Party and Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Kum-lae contained one message ― the dawn of a diverse society that will enrich the Korea of tomorrow.

The smiling faces of the recipient children and students served as living testimony.

Of course, “Little Psy” Hwang Min-woo capped it all with his rendition of “Gangnam Style.”

The seven-year-old born to a Korean father and Vietnamese mother outperformed Psy with his stunning dance moves, bringing down the house.

We didn’t expect this level of energy from the event we organized, and it overwhelmed us.

Be sure that you will be part of the next year’s second awards. <The Korea Times>

Foreign envoys, lawmakers and other dignitaries watch Hwang Min-woo, better known as “Little Psy,” dance the “horse-riding dance” to the tune of rapper Psy’s global hit “Gangnam Style” after he received the Jury Special Award.

Rep. Jasmine Lee of the ruling Saenuri Party, left, poses with Hong Won-joo, who won the Outstanding Middle School Student award.

Adrian Lee, an emcee for the event, poses with Jang Geum-sun, a winner of the Outstanding Middle School Student award.

Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Kum-lae gives the Outstanding High School Student award to Ha Up-joon, a pupil at Jaeneung Ubiquitous High School.