Goyang City Wins Grand Prize at the 16th Dasan Mokmin Awards

First 'Grand Prize' Honor in Northern Gyeonggi... Secured 75 Million KRW Special Tax and 10 Million KRW Prize Money
Highly Rated for Regional Development and Citizen Convenience Policies in Economic Free Zones
Goyang-Style Large Sidewalk Blocks Spread Nationwide as an Excellent Policy Case in Cities and Counties

Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City (right), is receiving the main award from Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, at the 16th Dasan Mokmin Awards ceremony on the 30th.

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 30th that it received the Grand Prize (Minister of the Interior and Safety Award) at the ‘16th Dasan Mokmin Awards’ ceremony. With this grand prize, the city secured a prize money of 10 million KRW along with a special grant of 75 million KRW.

The Dasan Mokmin Awards, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and sponsored by Naeil Newspaper and NH Nonghyup, are regarded as the highest honor in the administrative field. Every year, the award is given to basic local governments that embody the Mokmin spirit (self-discipline (律己), public service (奉公), and love for the people (愛民)) of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong in administrative practice.

This year, Goyang Special City received the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award, becoming the first local government in northern Gyeonggi to be named a grand prize winner.

The city was highly evaluated for practicing Dasan’s Mokmin spirit in various fields, including △achieving a comprehensive integrity rating of grade 2 for two consecutive years △receiving the highest rating in the integrity index of the city-county comprehensive evaluation for two consecutive years △installing the nation’s first road surface bus stops △introducing Goyang-style large sidewalk blocks △promoting designation of the Goyang Free Economic Zone △creating tourist attractions visited by people worldwide.

In particular, in the area of regional development, the city received praise for designating advanced industry special zones such as the Goyang Free Economic Zone and the Education Development Special Zone, along with fostering an industrial ecosystem.

Recently, the city was also selected as the first ‘Venture Business Promotion Zone’ in northern Gyeonggi, accelerating the development of advanced industries.

Regarding the Goyang-style large sidewalk blocks, they attracted attention as a unique policy and excellent case specific to Goyang from the second announcement evaluation stage.

The city is currently promoting a project to create pedestrian attractions under the name ‘Goyang Raon-gil’ through a citizen contest, utilizing the ‘Goyang Special City Sidewalk Maintenance Guidelines’ it independently established. Additionally, the city’s standard plan for installing large sidewalk blocks has been incorporated into the ‘2024 Standard Construction Work Unit Prices’ announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

With this award, the Korea Association of Mayors, Governors, and District Heads also took notice of the Goyang-style large sidewalk blocks, spreading the guidelines as an excellent policy case to cities, counties, and districts nationwide.

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City said, “Inspired by Dasan’s Mokmin spirit, which is filled with affection for citizens and the city, we have focused on improving citizens’ lives and increasing happiness through urban development. We will continue to open an era of citizen happiness based on a mindset that puts citizens first.”

Meanwhile, at this year’s ‘16th Dasan Mokmin Awards,’ Suyeong District of Busan City won the grand prize, while Goyang Special City and Jindo County in Jeollanam-do each received the grand prize.