The Korea Foundation is holding a seminar that examines challenges in the multicultural world and explores ways to foster intercultural understandings and mutual respect.

The state organization affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade kicks off the five-day seminar Thursday at Mayfield Hotel in Seoul that brings together world-renowned scholars and experts in the field of multiculturalism. About 50 experts from academia, international organizations, nonprofit organizations and governments in 20 countries are expected to attend the seminar.

Titled “Challenges of the Multicultural World and Global Approaches to Coexistence: Realities, Visions and Actions,” the seminar features three lectures conducted by groups of prominent scholars and working group meetings attended by young emerging professionals, who are expected to come up with some policy recommendations to challenges in multicultural society.

On Friday, Demetrios Papademetriou, co-director of the International Migration Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Policy, and two scholars from Singapore and Switzerland will examine realities of the so-called multicultural world.

On Saturday, chief executive officer of the National Australia Day Council Warren Pearson, in charge of immigration; Canadian political philosopher Will Kymlicka; and professor Han Kyung-koo of Seoul National University will discuss prospects for multicultural societies.

Irena Omelaniuk, migration adviser from the International Organization for Migration, and two other experts will hold discussions on actions to address cross-cultural challenges.

The three working groups will discuss ideas in various fields related to multiculturalism such as immigration, labor mobility, intermarriage, sustainable development and social and cultural rights and policies and governance. Each group is expected to suggest policy recommendations at the end.

Korean participants including National Assembly Speaker Kang Chang-hee, Philippine-born Korean lawmaker Jasmine Lee and Vice Justice Minister Ghil Tae-ki will discuss multicultural policies in Korea.

“We expect the seminar will be a chance to bring out practical policy recommendations from exchanges of experts, create a robust network of professionals, and promote Korea as a country that actively seeks answers to challenges against multiculturalism,” said an official of the public diplomacy department.

Public lectures will be held twice, on Nov. 30 at Korea University and Dec. 1 at Seoul Cyber University, for a wider audience.

The Korea Foundation Global Seminar, launched in 2011, is a signature program of the organization designed to facilitate transnational exchange of professional opinions on current global, regional and local issues. The foundation seeks to integrate the expertise of both the public and private sectors worldwide in an effort to tackle global challenges, as well as to forge robust professional networks.

For more information about the seminar, visit www.kf.or.kr.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)