SEOUL, 4 April 2015 – Philippine Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez commended the launch of a news-gathering brigade composed of multicultural elementary school children from various countries, including the Philippines, for a youth-oriented Korean-language online newspaper published in collaboration with one of Korea’s biggest media concerns.

“The increasing number of multicultural families is the outcome of globalized society, we want a society that has a positive image of multicultural children and to raise them as global leaders in South Korea,” said Tycoon Media Group CEO Choi Youngkyu, who opened the ceremonies with his welcome remarks at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel in Seoul. In his congratulatory speech as guest of honor, Ambassador Hernandez commended the Tycoon Media Group and the Hankook Ilbo Media Group for launching the “Ssaeng Ssaeng Mujigae” (Flash Rainbow News) Reporter Corps as part of its corporate social responsibility in encouraging the participation of Korean children with mixed parentage. “The older members of this democratic nation have the civic responsibility to challenge and educate the younger members of society of the concepts of diversity and inclusiveness,” Ambassador Hernandez said. “This program will also be an opportunity for these children to instill in them a sense of nationalistic pride by inspiring proper views about their motherland.” Some 100 elementary school children from 3rd to 6th grades who signified their interest to become cub reporters for the site and future leaders attended the event with their parents. The event, which was sponsored by the Arts Exchange Association and the Multicultural Federations of Culture, was attended by Choi Shin-won, Chairman of a high-tech material producer SKC Ltd., and members of Korea’s National Assembly. Ruling Saenuri Party’s Deputy Floor Leader Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun and Philippine-born Rep. Jasmine Lee sent video messages. The cub reporters of the “Ssaeng Ssaeng Rainbow News” will have a chance to meet and interview Seoul-based ambassadors, statesman, national leaders and Korean celebrities for publication of their news articles in future editions of the online children’s newspaper. –END–