Imsil-gun Selects 7 Recipients for the '42nd Citizens' Award'

Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk recently finalized seven recipients of the 42nd Imsil Citizens' Awards who have elevated the honor of Imsil and dedicated themselves to the development of the local community.

According to the county on the 25th, the Citizens' Award is a prestigious honor given to residents or natives of Imsil-gun who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in various fields.

Imsil County has selected seven recipients for the "42nd Citizens' Award."
[Photo by Imsil County]

The recipients were selected through a fair evaluation by judges after candidate nominations were received from May 17 to June 16 via town and township heads, heads of institutions and social organizations, and regional hometown associations.

In the cultural and sports category, former Kangjin-myeon Sports Association Chairman Jeong In-gi (Kangjin-myeon) was selected.

Chairman Jeong was recognized for leading the establishment of a fitness room at the Kangjin-myeon Welfare Center and donating his personal exercise equipment for use by all residents, contributing to the health and physical strength improvement of the local community, earning him this year’s Cultural and Sports Award.

In the industry category, Eom Gwi-seop, CEO of Imsil-gun Cooperative Joint Business Corporation (Unam-myeon), was selected. Since 2014, he has built the Agricultural Product Distribution Center (APC), establishing a distribution system for agricultural products, securing quality and price competitiveness for local produce, and significantly contributing to increased farm income through the stable operation of the Imsil-gun Integrated Rice Processing Center (RPC).

For the public service Saemaeul Award, Shin Yu-seop, Chairman of the Imsil-gun Saemaeul Leaders Association (Gwancheon-myeon), was selected. Since 2016, he has donated 800 bags of white rice (worth about 20 million KRW) cultivated by himself to vulnerable groups such as underprivileged neighbors and elderly living alone, leading efforts to create a community where everyone prospers together.

In the hometown love category, Kim Jin-tae, Chairman (originally from Sinpyeong-myeon), who operates Jeil Passenger Co., Ltd. and Seongjin Passenger Co., Ltd., was selected. He has continuously donated for the development of Imsil-gun with strong hometown affection, and this year, after donating hometown love funds, he even received the thank-you gifts in the form of Imsil Love Gift Certificates and re-donated them to local residents, earning widespread praise from the community.

Also, as a co-recipient, Choi Tae-ho, Chairman of the Jeonjae Imsil-gun Hometown Association since 2019 (originally from Jisa-myeon), was selected. Chairman Choi revitalized the hometown association, which had been stagnant due to COVID-19, and as Chairman of the Jeonbuk Agricultural and Industrial Complex Council, he actively served as a bridge between administration and companies to attract excellent enterprises to the Imsil Industrial Complex, greatly contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.

In the filial piety category, co-recipients include Jin Mi-seon (Imsil-eup), who has been a model in the community by devotedly caring for her mother suffering from dementia and her aunt with illness, and Tae Jeong-sik (Samgye-myeon), the head of Jukgye-ri village, who practices filial piety by sincerely caring for his mother living alone and the village elders.

County Governor Sim Min said, “The Citizens' Award is the highest honor bestowed in the name of Imsil citizens to those who have quietly contributed to the development of Imsil and practiced filial piety in their respective positions,” adding, “On behalf of all citizens, I express my gratitude to all those selected for the Citizens' Award this year.”

Meanwhile, the Citizens' Award ceremony is scheduled to be held at the 61st Imsil Citizens' Day commemorative ceremony at the Imsil-gun Public Stadium in October.

Imsil = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park No-sik baekok@asiae.co.kr