Seeds of Hope That Brightened Busan... Busan City Selects 6 Recipients for the 'Proud Citizen Award'

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan City has selected six individuals who have practiced volunteerism and sacrifice for the development of Busan and the happiness of its citizens for the ‘38th Proud Citizen Award.’

Started in 1985 and now in its 38th year, the Citizen Award is jointly hosted by Busan City and Busan Cultural Broadcasting. It is awarded to citizens with outstanding achievements in the three categories of ‘Patriotism,’ ‘Service,’ and ‘Sacrifice’ for the development of the local community and the promotion of social welfare.

This year’s Grand Prize was awarded to Yang Jae-saeng, CEO of Eunsan Shipping & Aviation, while the main prize in the ‘Patriotism’ category went to Moon Heon-gwan, CEO of Muns Coffee, and the encouragement prize to Kim Jong-gap, CEO of Joeun Forest Landscaping.

In the ‘Service’ category, without an encouragement prize, two main prize winners were selected: Park Jong-geon, director of Bit Haneul Clinic, and Park Jeong-hee, chairman of Busan Love Sharing Association.

In the ‘Sacrifice’ category, without a main prize, Park Hee-sul, CEO of Gupo Market Gabangi, was selected for the encouragement prize.

Grand Prize winner Yang Jae-saeng, CEO of Eunsan Shipping & Aviation, has made significant contributions to Busan City by promoting major municipal issues such as creating a boom atmosphere for the 2030 Expo bid since 2016 and securing the 2020 World Table Tennis Championships, the third largest global sports event.

He was also recognized for his exemplary positive mindset expressed in the motto ‘It will work, it will work well, it will work even better,’ serving as a role model in the local business community and exerting a positive influence on the local society.

Main prize winner in the ‘Patriotism’ category, Moon Heon-gwan, CEO of Muns Coffee, became the first Korean world champion at the World Cup Tasters Championship (WCC), which attracts attention from coffee industry professionals worldwide, contributing to promoting ‘Coffee City Busan’ globally.

Encouragement prize winner Kim Jong-gap, CEO of Joeun Forest Landscaping, actively represented local opinions when there was a movement to build a special forces training facility for the Korea Coast Guard on the site of Haesa High School in Yeongdo-gu, acting as a bridge between local residents and the Namhae Coast Guard.

Mr. Kim earned credit for amicably resolving local issues by negotiating not to build weapons and ammunition storage on the site and agreeing to open facilities such as lodging, reading rooms, and parking lots for residents’ convenience.

The most competitive ‘Service’ category selected only two main prize winners without an encouragement prize.

The first main prize winner, Park Jong-geon, director of Bit Haneul Clinic, was recognized for opening a hospital in a low-income area following his medical volunteer activities and for over ten years of numerous volunteer and sponsorship activities, providing warm medical care to low-income medical service users.

The other main prize winner, Park Jeong-hee, chairman of Busan Love Sharing Association, was deeply impressed by volunteers at the site of the 1995 Sampoong Department Store collapse and has made significant contributions in firefighting, including over 20 years of service as a female volunteer firefighter at Busanjin Fire Station.

Additionally, she has been a great support to neighbors in need through over ten years of providing living expenses and scholarships to the disabled and low-income families.

Finally, in the ‘Sacrifice’ category, only one encouragement prize winner was selected without a main prize.

Encouragement prize winner Park Hee-sul, CEO of Gupo Market Gabangi, discovered a fire early at a store in Gupo Market around 6:21 a.m. on July 11. He broke the shutter lock with a hammer and risked his safety to enter, contributing to preventing the fire from spreading through prompt initial response.

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “Those who received this year’s Proud Citizen Award have consistently volunteered for the local community and have been respected by Busan citizens. I hope they will continue to be seeds of hope that help overcome the current difficult times with care and affection for their neighbors.”

Busan City accepted nominations for the Citizen Award candidates from June 15 to August 16, conducted on-site fact-finding, external committee practical reviews, and final evaluations to select the final winners.

The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on the 5th at the ‘Busan Citizens’ Day’ commemorative event.