Asia Society Korea Center yesterday talked about ways of nurturing young leaders of the next generation while celebrating its second anniversary in Seoul.

Joint chairmen Shin Dong-bin, vice president of Lotte Group, and professor Lho Kyong-soo of Seoul National University hosted the event.

Some 200 members of Asia Society and top political and business figures including Lee Hong-koo, former prime minister and honorary chair of Asia Society‘s Korea Center, attended.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan gave a speech at the dinner for the celebrations.

Asia Society Korea Center is currently pursuing a program offering scholarships to children of multicultural families and refugees. The program is a joint project with the United Nations organization for refugees and also Seoul Global Center.

“The program is part of our goal to help these children and urge our society to take more interest in them,” said officials of Asia Society Korea Center. “Further, we hope to eliminate the prejudice that still exists in our society and help people accept other cultures.”

Asia Society is a global organization focused on strengthening relationships between the people, leaders, and institutions of the U.S. and Asia.

The organization was founded in 1956, and is a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution.

Asia Society Korea Center opened in Seoul in 2008. Former U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and current U.S. ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens are among the high-profile figures who have participated in the center’s activities.

The center has hosted some 31 seminars and forums over the past two years.

By Kim Ji-hyun  (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)