World Couples Day Ceremony Hosted by Changwon Hanmaum Hospital Held in Changwon

18 Couples, Including Former Deputy Speaker Lee Jooyoung, Receive Couples of the Year Award

To mark the 31st anniversary of World Couples Day, a commemorative ceremony was held on May 21 in the Grand Ballroom on the second floor of the Grand Mercure Ambassador Hotel in Changwon.

Group photo from the Couples Day commemorative ceremony.

The event was attended by more than 200 people, including Hah Choongsik, President of the World Couples Day Committee, Kwon Jaedo, Representative of the Committee, Jang Geumyong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, as well as the 18 couples who received the Couples of the Year Award and other distinguished guests. The ceremony included both the commemoration and the awards presentation to the 18 couples.

This year, the Couples of the Year Award was presented to 18 couples, including Lee Jooyoung and Heo Young, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and Kim Hoil and Lee Kyungyeol, former leaders of the Korean Senior Citizens Association. The award recognizes exemplary couples who have led their families and contributed to the development of a healthy family culture.

In particular, the story of Kim Hwangtae, a marathoner without arms who competed in the triathlon at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and his spouse Kim Jinhee, moved many in attendance.

Hah Choongsik, President of the World Couples Day Committee, which hosted and organized the event, stated, "The couple as a community forms the foundation of a healthy social culture through trust, understanding, respect, and consideration," and added, "Now that it has become a national commemorative day, we will do our best to promote a healthy and beautiful family culture for couples."

Meanwhile, Couples Day began in Changwon on May 21, 1995, and was later designated as a national commemorative day after a national petition, with May 21 symbolizing the idea of two becoming one during Family Month.