Eight exceptional students from diverse multicultural backgrounds have been recognized at the 14th Global Korea Awards, demonstrating the country's growing strength through cultural diversity. The winners, spanning from elementary school to university level, represent various fields including traditional music, science, athletics, and community service, highlighting how multicultural heritage contributes to Korea's educational and social landscape.
Among the elementary school winners, Myeong Soo-min stands out as a fifth-grader at Geumsan Elementary School in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, who aspires to become a traditional Korean musician. Born to a Cambodian mother and Korean father, Myeong has performed with a children's arts troupe at the Chuncheon Cultural Center and participated in international cultural exchanges, including a children's arts festival in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Through these international youth ensemble exchanges, he has expanded his global perspective and enhanced his communication skills for international performances. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Myeong regularly participates in volunteer programs, demonstrating care and cooperation in his community service efforts.
Another elementary school honoree, Shrestha Mondal, a second-grader at Gwangnam Elementary School in Busan's Suyeong District, showcases remarkable multilingual abilities. Born to Indian parents, she speaks fluent Korean, English, Hindi, and Bengali while displaying exceptional leadership qualities by supporting classmates and fostering an inclusive learning environment. Mondal has represented cultural diversity through public speaking at prestigious events including the U.N. Peace Festival and International Day of Yoga. In 2023, she earned recognition in the India Book of Records for delivering the highest number of topics in a single speech as a child. Having overcome esophageal atresia, she now dreams of becoming a pediatric surgeon to help other children facing medical challenges.
The middle school category features Kim Eun-woo, a second-year student at Jinsan Middle School in Incheon's Bupyeong District, born to a Korean father and Chinese mother. His strong curiosity drives his academic excellence and active participation in school activities, particularly his passion for world architecture. Kim has extensively researched major global landmarks, presenting their historical backgrounds and construction styles to classmates. His achievements include an excellence award in an upcycling proposal contest in April and a school commendation for exemplary filial conduct in May. As an enthusiastic athlete, he has represented his class in 50-meter relay races and provided encouragement during tug-of-war competitions. His geographic interests led him to deliver a compelling presentation about the limestone formations of Dodamsambong Peaks, the iconic trio of rock pillars in Danyang, North Chungcheong Province.
Ryu Seo-yeon, another middle school winner and second-year student at Lausanne Collegiate Incheon, demonstrates remarkable determination in both language studies and athletics. Born to a Korean father and Chinese mother, she has earned multiple awards in bilingual speech contests, showcasing her proficiency in Korean, Chinese, and English while transforming her multicultural background into a competitive advantage. After initially failing her school's physical fitness test, she committed to daily training and eventually earned an A grade in physical education, exemplifying her persistence and dedication to sports. This same determination extends to her kayaking pursuits, where despite suffering painful hand injuries during training, she completed an 8-kilometer canoe marathon in 2024 and won first place in the two-person inflatable canoe race at the National Marine Sports Games this year.
High school winners include Kim Hyun-jin, a second-year student at Kwangdong High School in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, who hopes to become a youth counselor. Born to a Korean father and Vietnamese mother, he has played a leadership role in Korea 4-H, a youth organization focused on agricultural and rural community development, for the past four years. During his second year, Kim helped establish the Gyeonggi Province student 4-H representative council and was elected as its inaugural chairperson, coordinating agricultural and environmental projects with representatives from 21 cities and counties. His commitment to service is reflected in over 236 hours of volunteer work and participation in cultural exchanges with youth from Vietnam and Jordan.
Park Si-yeun, a third-year student at Hansung Science High School in Seoul's Seodaemun District, represents excellence in scientific research. Born to a Korean father and Chinese mother, she aspires to become a forensic genetics researcher and has demonstrated exceptional leadership as head of her laboratory team. Her collaborative approach and problem-solving skills notably improved the yield of an aspirin synthesis experiment through coordinated teamwork. Park has achieved Levels 3 and 4 of the Chinese Proficiency Test and utilizes English to analyze complex scientific topics, showcasing her ability to conduct research across multiple languages. Her methodical approach to overcoming setbacks involves identifying root causes and refining experimental methods, making her an invaluable contributor to her school's science laboratory projects.
The university-level global leadership category features Andrua Haque, a Master of Science candidate in Agricultural Biotechnology and FoodTech at Seoul National University. Born in Korea to Bangladeshi parents, Haque lived in Australia, Brunei, and Kuwait during his school years, developing a multicultural perspective rooted in coexistence and mutual understanding. At Seoul National University, he serves as a class representative, supporting international students through exchange programs and advocacy activities while mentoring youth facing identity-related challenges. As co-founder of two innovative startups, he has created one company that upcycles shrimp byproducts in Bangladesh into pet food and biochar for soil improvement, and another that connects Korean public technologies to Bangladeshi development projects through ICT-based development cooperation.
Ju Ye-bom, a senior psychology major at Sogang University in Seoul's Mapo District, brings a unique perspective as someone born in North Korea who left the country with her parents at age 15. Drawing from her personal experience of adapting to life in South Korea, she has mentored middle school students from multicultural families, helping them build confidence through personalized guidance and support. Ju founded an innovative discussion club where young people from North and South Korea and multicultural backgrounds participate without disclosing their origins, creating a safe environment for open dialogue about Korean Peninsula issues. Her outreach extends to international institutions, including collaborations with New York University and the YMCA, where she engages with people from diverse backgrounds while embracing and celebrating cultural differences.
