Contribution to Practicing the Seonbi Spirit for 35 Years
and Advancing the Local Community
Yeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province, announced that Jinyoung Kim (age 86), President of the Yeongju International Exchange Association, received the 7th Korea Seonbi Award at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Yeongju Korea Seonbi Culture Festival, which was held at Munjeong Riverside Park on May 3, 2025.
Jinyoung Kim, President of the International Exchange Association (second from the left), is posing for a commemorative photo after receiving the 7th Korea Seonbi Award. Provided by Yeongju City
The award ceremony was solemnly conducted in the presence of approximately 1,500 citizens, Confucian scholars, and distinguished guests. The proceedings included a report on the selection process of the awardee, the presentation of the trophy by Lee Jaehun, Acting Mayor of Yeongju, the delivery of the prize money by Kim Byunggi, Chairman of Yeongju City Council, and the presentation of a bouquet by Kim Deokhwan, Chairman of the Korea Seonbi Award Committee.
President Kim stated, "This award does not belong to me alone, but to all the citizens who have worked together for Yeongju," and added, "I will continue to practice small acts for the community and future generations based on the spirit of Seonbi."
In particular, he announced, "I will donate the entire prize money (10 million KRW) as a scholarship to foster local talent," creating a warm atmosphere at the event.
Acting Mayor Lee Jaehun congratulated him, saying, "President Kim has demonstrated the value of the Seonbi spirit through his life. All citizens express their respect for his lifelong dedication to preserving and spreading Yeongju's spiritual legacy."
Jinyoung Kim has served as the 13th National Assembly member and as the first and second popularly elected Mayor of Yeongju, leading the region's development in both public office and the private sector for over 35 years. He has played a pivotal role in the modernization of Confucian culture and the establishment of local identity through the sanctification of Sosu Seowon, the construction of Seonbichon and Sosu Museum, and the founding and regularization of the Korea Seonbi Culture Festival.
Based on these achievements, President Kim has driven substantial progress in all fields of Yeongju, including education, agriculture, economy, and culture, and is recognized as having played a central role in establishing Yeongju as Korea's leading city of spiritual culture today.
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