Judge's comment: Award winners stand as hope for multicultural Korea

The judges for the 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards participate in the evaluation of award applicants online, Nov. 25. They are, clockwise from top left: Asian Friends Honorary Chairman Kim Joon-sik; Migrant Youth Foundation Board Chairman and Hanyang University professor emeritus Cha Yun-kyun; Asian Friends Chairwoman Lee Nam-sook; adviser to Woongjin Foundation Sohn Wie-soo; Seoul YMCA's civil society movement department representative Ju Gun-ihl; and Korea Cultural Diversity Organization Chair Jasmine Lee. / Captured from Zoom

By Cha Yun-kyung

First of all, I sincerely congratulate you on being selected as the winners of the 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards organized by The Korea Times.

I'm confident that the 11 children selected as winners this year will grow into valuable people who will lead the future of Korean society with extraordinary sincerity and talent.

We judges were deeply touched and felt regret at the same time reading the applicants' life stories.

The stories of the children with multicultural backgrounds were very impressive. Someone was a role model for many fellow students with excellent academic achievement and leadership, while another was growing into a capable person to live in the global era with outstanding foreign language skills. There were also children who were doing volunteer work for schools and the community with brilliant ideas and passion.

But we were heartbroken when reading sad stories of those who had to grow up too early while facing unexpected adversities.

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However, they were never frustrated in the middle of the harsh world and did not blame the world for treating them unfairly. They were reaching for their dreams, and we believe they will overcome all hardship with their strong will and will bloom like beautiful flowers.

So I wanted to select all applicants as winners. I wanted to hug each and every one of them tightly and thank them for growing up so well.

I wanted to praise them and say I am proud of them. I wanted to comfort them by saying that the bright sun will surely rise if they endure the time of darkness.

I hope that all of you gathered here today will think that you are receiving the awards as representatives of all these applicants. Also, the small fruits you reap today will surely become the seeds of a more bountiful harvest that all the children with migrant backgrounds in this country will reap tomorrow.

Dear winners, please do not stop. Keep moving forward.

You are our hope that will lead a quality, multicultural Korea. And I hope you will always remember that you are never alone on your journey toward a brighter tomorrow.

Please do not forget that there are thousands of people watching and cheering for you. Also, please do not turn away from the desperate eyes of many who are waiting for your help. Please always remember that we can go further and stronger when we go together.

Congratulations again.

Cha Yun-kyung is professor emeritus at Hanyang University and board chairman of the Migrant Youth Foundation. The former president of the Korean Association for Multicultural Education was a member of the jury for the 10th Korea Multicultural Youth Awards.

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