The Australian Embassy in Korea lauded multiculturalism as an important value in Australian society in this year’s national day celebrations at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul on Thursday.

The evening’s festivities included a fashion show with Korea-Australian designer Bae Yeo-jin’s winter line, worn by Australian model Jessica Gomes, who made headlines here in 2011 when performing in Korea’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

“A focal point for this year’s celebration included the achievements of Korean-Australians,” Australian Ambassador to Korea Sam Gerovich told The Korea Herald before the reception.

Gerovich has made a point to highlight Australia’s Korean community throughout his tenure here since 2009, but this year’s multicultural focus had special significance because of a spate of assaults against Koreans in Australia toward the end of 2012.

Some of the victims claimed the attacks, which had been widely reported in Korean media, were racially motivated.

Gerovich has personal experience with the challenges and virtues of multiculturalism. He and his parents, who are ethnic Russians, emigrated to Australia from Shanghai shortly after the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949.

“I cannot say Australia has never had its problems. Every country does,” he said. “But we are a very successful multicultural society.”

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)