The 14th Global Korea Awards, hosted by The Korea Times, celebrated multicultural youth on November 27, 2025. Grand prize winner Selma Naciri highlighted the event's focus on bridging cultures. Officials and judges emphasized an inclusive future for Korea's diverse younger generation.
The 14th Global Korea Awards took place in Seoul on November 27, 2025. Hosted by The Korea Times with support from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family since 2012, the event recognized 14 outstanding multicultural youth from elementary to university levels, highlighting Korea's growing cross-cultural generation.
Grand prize winner Selma Naciri, an 18-year-old at Bosung Girls’ High School in Yongsan, Seoul, was born to a Moroccan father who became a Korean citizen and a Korean mother. "I want to become a diplomat who can contribute to sustainable development that benefits both Korea and Morocco," she said in an interview. Drawing from about 10 visits to Morocco, Naciri noted urban-rural disparities and suggested Korea's official development assistance could help Morocco bridge Africa and Europe. Her homeroom teacher, Kim Hye-jin, said, "Naciri fits naturally into any group and brings good energy to those around her."
Other winners included elementary students Myeong Soo-min (Cambodian heritage, aspiring traditional Korean musician who performed in Japan) and Shrestha Mondal (Indian heritage, multilingual speaker listed in the 2023 India Book of Records, aspiring pediatric surgeon after overcoming esophageal atresia). Middle school honorees were Kim Eun-woo (Chinese heritage, architecture enthusiast with awards in upcycling) and Ryu Seo-yeon (Chinese heritage, bilingual speech awards and kayaking champion). High school recipients included Kim Hyun-jin (Vietnamese heritage, 4-H leader with over 236 volunteer hours, aspiring youth counselor) and Park Si-yeun (Chinese heritage, science team leader aspiring forensic genetics researcher). University winners were Andrua Haque (Bangladeshi heritage, SNU master's student and startup co-founder aspiring international cooperation specialist) and Ju Ye-bom (North Korean defector, Sogang University psychology senior who founded a discussion club). Additional awardees: Song Jae-yeon (Filipino heritage, track athlete), Yoon Young-mee (Filipino heritage, nursing student with over 110 volunteer hours), Park Ha-neul (Filipino-Pakistani heritage, IB student), Chae Yu-jin (Mongolian heritage, aspiring trot singer and volunteer), and Bhatti Bethany Naome (Pakistani heritage, aspiring flight attendant and school leader).
Judge Jeong Hun-do, a Seoul National University senior and 2017 winner, advised, "Don't live to prove yourselves against prejudice. Live for the future you dream of. Your identity is the life you have built." Vice Minister Jung Goo-chang stated, "We will expand policies so immigrant families can live happy lives, supporting 244 centers nationwide for learning, careers, and education." The awards underscore the potential of multicultural youth to foster a more inclusive Korea.
