Ulju County Selects Winners of the 34th Ulju County Citizens' Award

Four Categories: Regional Development, Education, Culture and Sports, Filial Piety, and Social Service

Ulsan Ulju County announced on the 1st that it has selected the recipients of the 34th Ulju County Citizen Award in four categories, recognizing individuals who have served as role models for the 230,000 residents and contributed to raising the county’s prestige.

Previously, Ulju County conducted on-site inspections and document reviews for a total of 21 candidates. After holding the final meeting of the Ulju County Citizen Award Selection Committee on the 31st of last month, the recipients in each category were confirmed.

The recipients of the 34th Ulju County Citizen Award are as follows: Park Sooncheol (47, President of the Successor Agricultural Managers Ulju County Association) in the Regional Development category; Yoo Hongseop (74, Director of the Ulju County Women’s Choir) in the Education, Culture, and Sports category; Woo Yeonok (67, resident of Dudong-myeon) in the Filial Piety category; and Hyeseong Sunim (67, Chief Monk of Sinbulsa Temple) in the Social Service category, totaling four individuals.

Park Sooncheol, recipient in the Regional Development category, has dedicated himself to representing the rights and supporting the independence of young farmers since being selected as a successor agricultural manager in 2006. He has generously shared his farming skills and agricultural know-how through educational programs for young start-up farmers.

In 2017 and 2019, he entered his own farm produce in the National Excellent Agricultural Products One-Heart Contest, winning the Director’s Award from the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service and the Minister’s Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He was recognized for widely promoting the excellence of Ulju County’s agricultural products nationwide and enhancing the competitiveness of Ulju County agriculture.

Yoo Hongseop, recipient in the Education, Culture, and Sports category, has served as director of the Ulju County Women’s Choir since 2013. He has organized annual regular concerts and outreach performances, actively participating in major cultural events in Ulju County.

He has provided residents with opportunities to enjoy high-quality cultural experiences and contributed to the revitalization of local culture. By consistently participating in national choir competitions, he won the Bronze Prize at the 2023 Ulsan National Choir Competition and the Harmony Award at last year’s Geoje National Choir Competition, helping to promote Ulju County and its artistic excellence.

Woo Yeonok, recipient in the Filial Piety category, has become a role model for filial duty by caring for her 103-year-old mother-in-law with a bright smile and warm heart for 40 years.

Despite her husband’s sudden illness and challenging health conditions, she has cared for her spouse and managed the affairs of her large extended family of nine siblings-in-law, working tirelessly for family harmony. She has also made significant contributions to community service and the development of county administration through her activities in local organizations.

Hyeseong Sunim, recipient in the Social Service category and chief monk of Sinbulsa Temple, has supported 485 underprivileged students with a total of 576 million won in scholarships through the Sinbulsa Charity Association since 2005, following the temple’s establishment in 1999. Over the past 25 years, he has also continuously donated rice and daily necessities worth 55 million won to various social welfare facilities, including nursing homes and facilities for the disabled, striving to help the socially disadvantaged and marginalized.

Ulju County plans to present the Ulju County Citizen Award at the 34th County Residents’ Day Commemoration Ceremony, which will be held at Onyang Sports Park on the 19th.