On September 7, 2024, the 10th Japan Youth Dream Presentation Festival, hosted by the My Dream International Foundation, was held at the Tokyo Korean School. The My Dream International Foundation has branches in over 30 countries around the world and holds festivals every year to support overseas Korean youth in realizing their dreams.
The All-Japan Youth Dream Presentation Festival, now in its 10th year, is hosted by the My Dream International Foundation Japan Branch and the Tokyo Korean School, and sponsored by the Mindan Tokyo Headquarters, the Tokyo Korean Education Center, the Association of Korean Schools in Japan, Dongwon Japan, International Express, and Love Sharing.
To support this event, Foundation Chairman Son Chang-hyun and Foundation Vice Chairman Park Yo-han came all the way from the United States to Japan. Distinguished guests included Tokyo Korean School Principal Han Sang-mi, Dongwon Japan CEO Ha Gi-seok, International Express Management Director Na Ji-wook, Narasarang Tokyo Headquarters Director Jang Jae-hyeok, Vice Director Song Mi-hyeon, Mindan Tokyo Headquarters Education Department Director Lee Seon-wook, Japan Korean Schools Association Vice Chairman Jeon Jeong-seon, Love Sharing Chairman Kim Un-cheon, Tokyo Korean School Elementary PTA Chairman Kim Yeong-ju, Korea-Japan Cultural Arts Exchange Association Chairman Ha Gwi-myeong, Hangul Globalization Movement Federation Yokohama Headquarters Director Tanakami Yuki, Education Foundation Research Fellow Lee Dong-jun, Tokyo Korean Education Center Director Lee Gyeong-tae, and Democratic Peace Unification Advisory Council Japan Eastern Council Secretary-General Park Hyo-sim, among others, who attended the event and congratulated the festival with one heart.
International Express and Dongwon Japan sponsored gift items, the president of Love Sharing and the president of the Korea-Japan Cultural Arts Exchange Association sent Geumilbong, and the director of the Tokyo Education Center made a banner for the event, helping to support the dreams of Japanese youth. In addition, over 100 parents and students attended the event, making it a great success. The event was broadcast live around the world through YouTube.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Son Chang-hyun of the Foundation encouraged the students to have a clearly motivated dream and to prepare for, develop, and complete that dream to become leaders of the world who brighten up their surroundings. In his congratulatory remarks, Principal Han Sang-mi of Donggyeong Korean School paid tribute to the foundation and related parties who support dreams, and encouraged the students to become people who have the confidence to achieve their dreams to the end.
This festival was attended by 54 Korean youths from all over Japan, and after a rigorous preliminary round, 15 of them advanced to the final round. The final round participants creatively told stories about their dreams, and after the presentations, there was a congratulatory performance by the Tokyo Korean School Samulnori group.
The competition was held in a festive atmosphere where everyone cheered each other on and celebrated each other's dreams, in a serious atmosphere where everyone talked about their dreams, shared their dreams, and empathized with each other.
The first place winner of this competition was Kim Ye-seul (2nd year of high school), who came all the way from Osaka and presented on the topic, “Good friends who communicate with the world through culture.” She received a plaque and a scholarship of 50,000 yen.
Second place went to Kim A-gyeol (3rd year of middle school), a student from an international school who gave a wonderful presentation on the topic, “Genre is Kim A-gyeol.”
Third place went to Kim Ye-eun (middle school 2nd year), who presented on the topic ‘Towards my dream’, and Han Shin (middle school 3rd year), who presented on the topic ‘My dream is ING’.
The remaining 11 students who made it to the finals all received encouragement awards and small scholarships, making it a time of celebration where everyone shared and cheered on each other's dreams.
Students who rank 1st to 3rd are eligible to apply for a scholarship, and if selected as a scholarship student, they will be awarded a scholarship for four years of college. They will also be invited to a gala show in the United States.
Lee Hoon-woo, the head of the Japanese branch, said that up until now, many students from all over Japan have participated in the competition and achieved good results, such as being selected as scholarship students. He added that this competition was especially meaningful because many students from as far away as Osaka participated, and various Korean residents in Japan, including students from local schools in the metropolitan area, students from international schools, and students from Korean schools, participated, giving the festival an even more meaningful image as an all-Japan competition.
He also promised that he would hold the competition in Kobe next year and would actively provide opportunities for Korean school students to present their dreams, thereby contributing to the revitalization of Korean schools in Japan.
I look forward to the future activities of the Japan branch of My Dream International Foundation.
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