Participants in the 18th Together Day Festival on May 20 take a group photo at Gwacheon Civic Center in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Ministry of Justice)

By Koh Hyunjeong

The Ministry of Justice on May 20 held the 18th Together Day Festival at Gwacheon Civic Center in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do Province.

The occasion was designated a legal commemorative day in 2007 to stimulate the creation of a social environment in which Koreans and expats respect each other's cultures and traditions through coexistence. The annual festival's inaugural edition came in 2008.

Held under the slogan "Dream Together, Korea Soars Higher," the event was attended by 500 Koreans and expats including diplomatic officials from 18 countries, the Korean representative to the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees and head of the Philippine Immigration Bureau.

A thematic video was shown to open the event, followed by a speech by Minister of Justice Park Sung Jae, congratulatory speeches from Australian Ambassador Jeff Robinson and Acting Polish Ambassador Artur Gradziuk, an awards ceremony to mark Together Day, concert by a multicultural orchestra and K-pop performances.

The 17 government awards given that day included presidential and prime minister citations for individuals and organizations for their long-time support for expat settlement and social integration.

The two individuals who received the presidential honors were Sister Marianna Swierzewska, a Polish nun who was cited for her dedication to help struggling migrants settle in and adjust to Korea, and dentist Byeon Yeong-nam, who offers free treatment for foreign laborers and the poor.

For organizations, the Gumi Catholic Workers' Culture Center won the presidential citation for helping expats settle in Gumi and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and improving their rights for over 50 years.

Minister Park said in his commemorative speech, "We will do our best to build the foundation for an immigration administration to realize a society where the human rights and value of immigrants are respected and develop the country into a global leader."

In addition, Together Day Week from May 20-26 will feature events like the Busan World Citizen Festival; a traditional costume and world folk clothing fashion show in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do Province; multicultural street on Jeju Island, and Korean speech contest in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province.

hjkoh@korea.kr