Gwangyang City Library Awards Outstanding Participants of the 2021 Reading Marathon Competition

Four Outstanding General Division Winners Awarded Gwangyang Mayor's Prize and Certificate of Completion

[Asia Economy Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr] Jeonnam Gwangyang City Library announced on the 1st that it held the 2021 Reading Marathon Awards Ceremony at the Central Library on November 30th and presented the Gwangyang Mayor’s Award and completion certificates to the outstanding participants in the general division.

Now in its 7th year, the Reading Marathon was held from January to October this year, divided into elementary, middle and high school, and general divisions, with four categories: 5km, 10km, half course, and full course. A total of 320 people participated, and 113 completed the marathon.

On November 10th, the City Library selected 15 outstanding finishers through a rigorous evaluation process for those who completed the Reading Marathon, with four Korean language teachers from local elementary and middle schools recommended by the Gwangyang Office of Education participating as judges in the Youth Study Room of the Central Library.

The outstanding participants in the general division were ▲Kim Da-hyun (full course, Geumho-dong) ▲Park Ha-na (half course, Geumho-dong) ▲Yoo Jeong-ran (10km, Gwangyang-eup) ▲Yoon Shin-jung (5km, Jungma-dong), four people in total.

The 2021 Reading Marathon general division awards ceremony, held simply, proceeded with the presentation of the Gwangyang Mayor’s Award and completion certificates, delivery of commemorative gifts, commemorative photos, sharing impressions of participating in the Reading Marathon, and listening to the City Library’s policies.

Kim Da-hyun, an outstanding participant who completed the full course, said, “I am happy to be selected as an outstanding finisher in the full course in my first challenge at the Reading Marathon,” adding, “I think the time spent with the library, because I love books, brought me this honor today.”

Ko Geun-seong, Director of Library Operations, said, “I feel sorry that I have to deliver the Gwangyang Mayor’s Award on behalf of the citizens’ congratulations due to the COVID-19 situation,” and encouraged, “I hope to meet again next year with good results.”

Meanwhile, the city sent completion certificates by mail to finishers other than the outstanding participants in the general division, and sent awards and certificates for outstanding and finishing participants in the elementary and middle/high school divisions to their respective schools for presentation to the students.

Various benefits are provided to the finishers and awardees of this Reading Marathon, including increasing the number of books that can be borrowed per loan from 10 to 15 starting in 2022.

Gwangyang City Library plans to complete all preparations by December this year and hold the 2022 Reading Marathon from January next year with more detailed categories so that more citizens can participate in the marathon.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr