Paju-si Announces Winners of the 4th Private Records Collection Contest

Honor Award for 'Uiyeol Gongsajeok'

The Grand Prize Winner of the 4th Private Records Collection Contest in Paju City, 'Uiryeolgong Sajuk'.

Gyeonggi Paju City (Mayor Kim Kyung-il) announced the results of the 4th Paju City Private Records Collection Contest for 2024 on the 22nd, following the judging held on the 19th.

This year marks the 4th edition of the contest, which received over 500 entries including photographs, documents, and artifacts. Through the evaluation by the 3rd Private Records Management Committee, one Grand Prize winner, two Excellence Award winners, and five Merit Award winners were selected.

The Grand Prize winner, Mr. Park Jong-hae, submitted records related to the patriotic martyr General Park Jin (1560?1597), who made significant achievements during the Imjin War, as well as records related to the Gyujeonggong branch of the Miryang Park clan.

Excellence Award winner Mr. Lee In-gyu submitted numerous letters and petitions related to his grandfather, the late Lee Deok-rim, who was forcibly mobilized to Sakhalin in 1943, including correspondence sent to his family (son Lee Jong-seop) and petitions for repatriation to Yeongju. Another Excellence Award winner, Mr. Heo Bung-mu, head of the Korea 4-H Paju Headquarters, submitted records related to the 4-H youth education movement that led community efforts.

Other Merit Award winners include Mr. Choi Young-ho, who submitted house sale documents from the 1950s to 1970s; Mr. Seo Won-hak, who submitted 28 diaries written since 1981; Ms. Lee Eun-kyung, who submitted elementary to high school diplomas from the 1950s; Mr. Kim Nak-gyu, who submitted a family register from the 2nd year of Ham-pung; and Mr. Lee Cheon-yong, who submitted relics of the scholar Yulgok. The winning entries will be exhibited in the Digital Archives on the 2nd floor of the Central Library in December.

Seo Byung-kwon, director of the Central Library, stated, “It is very encouraging that the Private Records Contest continues to collect high-quality records reflecting Paju’s unique regional characteristics and local history.” He added, “In particular, the records of the patriotic martyr General Park Jin, which won the Grand Prize, are highly valuable in terms of authenticity and rarity, further elevating the prestige of the contest.”