41st Cheonan Citizen Award Winners Selected

Choi Soonkyu for Education and Academia, Kim Kichang for Culture and Arts, and Kim Kisook for Social Service Selected

Winners of the 41st Cheonan Citizen Awards. From the left, Choi Sunkyu for Education and Scholarship, Kim Kichang for Culture and Arts, and Kim Kisuk for Social Service.

The recipients of the 41st Cheonan Citizen Award, who have elevated the status of Cheonan City this year, have been selected.

The city announced on the 7th that it had invited nominations and conducted a review to determine the awardees in six categories: education and academics, culture and arts, sports promotion, social service, local economy, and youth and young adult policy.

The awardees by category are Choi Soonkyu, former teacher at Cheonan Cheongsu High School, for education and academics; Kim Gichang, director of the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, for culture and arts; and Kim Kisuk, president of the Private Daycare Association, for social service. There were no recipients in the sports promotion, local economy, or youth and young adult policy categories.

Choi Soonkyu (60) was recognized for his contributions to student guidance, Korea Scout activities, and cultural heritage field experiences during his 32 years and 6 months as a high school teacher, which positively influenced students' career choices.

Kim Gichang (76), as a non-executive director of the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, contributed to the development, preservation, and transmission of local culture by providing policy advice on culture and arts and authoring Cheonan-related books such as the Cheonan Women's White Paper and Cheonan's Legendary Travels.

Kim Kisuk (71) was selected as an awardee for her strong sense of duty and volunteer spirit, demonstrated through her roles as president of the Women's Association Council, Bongmyeong chair of the Korea Freedom Federation's Operations Committee, and as a member of social service organizations such as Eunha Lions Club and the Children's Safety Protection Council.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place next month on the 10th, in conjunction with the commemorative event for the completion of the Cheonan Citizens' Bell, to mark Cheonan Citizens' Day.