A college student from Uzbekistan who spoke on the topic of “a key word that can imprint an image of Korea to the world” won a speech contest held at the Seoul Museum in Buam-dong on Saturday.

The speech contest, held under the title “Communicating for a Brighter Future of Korea,” was organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute.

In very fluent Korean, the top-prize winner Zohid Mamadjanov, who came to Korea only a year ago, suggested that developing the tourism industry would promote a positive image of Korea. He mapped out a specific plan which included using social networking services to distribute information and naming student ambassadors in foreign countries to introduce Korea. He also commented that Korea should target Central and South Americas and Europe to promote the Korean Wave, following up on its remarkable success in Asia. 

Mamadjanov, who is studying tourism at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, plans to work for the Korean government to promote Korea.

Meanwhile, Marwa Mohamed Zahran took the second place for her speech on the need to change the society’s awareness of multiculturalism. She pointed out that the Korean society thinks of “multicultural families” as poor and unfortunate and with a mother from Southeast Asia.

“The society is very generous and welcomes foreigners with light skin but that does not apply to those with darker skin,” she said.

Torrin Dmitri Mike from the U.S. won the Director of Korean Culture and Information Service prize, keeping the audience entertained throughout with his sense of humor and posing for pictures during his speech.

The winner of the competition gets the opportunity to share his ideas with experts from around the world at the upcoming Culture Communication Forum on Sept. 3-5.

Offering tips on effective communication, CICI president Choi Jung-wha stressed that “logic, expressiveness, wit and attitude are the most important features in communication.”

Twenty-two finalists selected from among 113 applicants participated in the final round of the speech contest held on Saturday.

Philippines-born naturalized Saenuri Party lawmaker Jasmine Lee, Arirang TV & Radio president and CEO Sohn Ji-ae and Seo Kyung-duk, well known for his works promoting Dokdo, served as jury members at the contest.

Another well-known figure, Theresa Rah, a spokesperson of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Bid Committee, emceed the event.

By Suh Hye-rim (sheren6735@heraldcorp.com)