SEOUL, 9 July 2015 – Four Filipino marriage immigrants were honored at the 7th KEB Global Family Awards, annual multicultural awards organized by the largest foreign exchange bank in Korea, the Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) Foundation, for their volunteer work towards the improvement of the welfare of other multicultural families in Korea.

Lelibeth Banaag, Janneth Mactal, Alice Lipata and Kathrine Choi were also recognized for their efforts to promote the participation and integration of multicultural spouses into Korean society. Selected as overall winner of the Happy Family Award, Ms. Banaag received KRW8 million, while Ms Mactal, a runnerup for the same award, Ms. Lipata and Ms. Choi, both runners-up for the Hopeful Family Award, all received KRW5 million won. The awarding ceremony, held in central Seoul on Wednesday, 8 July 2015, was attended by Minister Kim Hee-Jung of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF), Representative Jasmine Lee of the Korean National Assembly, Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez, and Ambassador Botirjon Asadov of Uzbekistan. Ambassador Hernandez congratulated the Filipina awardees for devoting themselves not only to making their own lives better in Korea despite cultural differences and social prejudices, but to improving the society at large in their adopted motherland. Other winners include individuals from Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. In her congratulatory remarks, Minister Kim underscored the importance of multicultural families in Korean society, saying that they “are the sources of talented people in Korea now,” and that “the Ministry (MOGEF) will try to improve legislation in cooperation with Rep. Jasmine Lee.” Rep. Lee also lauded the many women of multicultural families, affirming that their “devotion and volunteer work for the community will help improve public perception of multicultural families in Korea.” The KEB Global Family Awards aims to highlight the importance of the well-being and adjustment of multicultural families in South Korea, as well as to encourage and promote an open, pluralistic Korean society. It also provides these families the opportunity to be recognized based on their achievements and capabilities. The KEB Global Family Awards has three main award categories: the Happy Family Award for those who successfully settled into Korean society and lead a successful family life; the Hopeful Family Award for those who have committed to volunteer work to help neighbors in need and improve the welfare of other multicultural families; and the Happy Helper Award, for those who provide support for the advancement of the welfare of multicultural families.. The KEB Foundation launched the KEB Global Family Awards Program in 2009. Since the program was launched, KEB Foundation has named and awarded over 100 individuals and groups.