This Year's Goseong County Residents Award Recipients: Jugi-chang and Sim Chun-hwa

Former Goseong Cultural Center Director? Geumgang Nonghyup Housewives' Association Chair Receives Award
Award Ceremony Held on September 23, 'Goseong Residents' Day'

Goseong County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Ham Myeong-jun) announced on the 11th that the recipients of the 28th Goseong Citizen Award have been finalized as Ju Ki-chang, former director of the Goseong Cultural Center (80 years old) in the Culture and Education category, and Shim Chun-hwa, chairperson of the Geumgang Nonghyup Housewives' Association (65 years old) in the Regional Development category.

The 28th Goseong County Citizen Award recipients, former Goseong Cultural Center Director Ju Ki-chang (left) and Sim Chun-hwa, Chairwoman of the Geumgang Nonghyup Farm Housewives Association.

On September 3rd, Goseong County held the '28th Goseong Citizen Award Screening Committee' meeting at the county office conference room, chaired by the vice county governor, and made this decision. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the opening event of the '42nd Goseong Citizen's Day and Suseong Cultural Festival' on the 23rd of this month.

Now in its 28th year, the Goseong Citizen Award is given to outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to cultural advancement and community development to promote harmony and consolidate the capabilities of county residents. The announcement was made on July 22nd, and candidate recommendation forms were accepted from August 13th to 22nd, resulting in three candidates across two categories.

Ju Ki-chang, the Culture and Education category awardee and former director of the Goseong Cultural Center, served as director for eight years from 2016 until the end of June this year. He was recognized for his efforts in organizing the local festival 'Goseong Citizen's Day and Suseong Cultural Festival,' which discovers and preserves Goseong County’s unique traditional folk culture, thereby promoting harmony and unity among residents.

Additionally, by operating the 'Goseong Local History Research Institute' and publishing books such as Exploring the History and Culture of Goseong and History and Culture of Goseong Encountered in the Classroom, which were distributed to schools within Goseong County, he contributed to fostering historical awareness and patriotism among the youth of Goseong.

Shim Chun-hwa, the Regional Development category awardee and chairperson of the Geumgang Nonghyup Housewives' Association, made significant contributions by hosting the 'Dalhol Potato Festival and Oksigi Event' to promote local agricultural specialties to tourists, thereby widely publicizing the quality and taste of Goseong County’s excellent agricultural products. Since 2007, she has also actively participated as a member of the Jukwang-myeon Residents' Autonomy Committee, leading projects such as planting sunflowers on the idle land of Bungeo Island, creating nighttime landscapes, and developing the Ohori Emotional Street project.

Shim has served as president of the Jukwang-myeon Saemaul Women's Association and vice president of the Jukwang-myeon Prosperity Association, working diligently and devotedly to promote community development and improve residents' welfare. She was recognized for her contributions as a bridge between administration and residents, strengthening community cohesion and enhancing the local image through volunteer activities.