Outstanding Achievements in Urban Society, Urban Economy, Urban Environment, and Support Systems
On July 15, Gangdong District in Seoul, led by Mayor Soohee Lee, announced that it had received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award at the 2025 Korea Urban Awards.
At the awards ceremony held that day at Exhibition Hall 1 of BEXCO in Busan, Gangdong District achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award by receiving outstanding comprehensive evaluations in four areas of the "Policy Indicator Evaluation": society, economy, environment, and support systems.
Gangdong District received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award at the 2025 Korea Urban Awards on the 15th. Photo in the center: Soohee Lee, Mayor of Gangdong District. Courtesy of Gangdong District.
The "Korea Urban Awards" are organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and are presented to local governments among the 229 basic local governments nationwide that have contributed to the realization of sustainable cities and the improvement of living infrastructure. The evaluation is divided into two categories: the "Policy Indicator Evaluation," which comprehensively assesses quantitative and qualitative data such as statistical figures and best practices, and the "Outstanding Policy" category, which focuses on qualitative evaluation.
Gangdong District received high marks in the "Policy Indicator Evaluation" for four areas?urban society (disaster prevention and safety, social welfare), urban economy (population, economy), urban environment (residential, environment, etc.), and support systems (land use, etc.)?through specialized projects in each field.
Specifically, in the urban society category, efforts to create a safe city were recognized through initiatives such as providing safety equipment for single-person households, operating a resident surveillance team against illegal filming, and implementing the Safe Return Scout program. In the urban economy category, Gangdong District was evaluated positively for its efforts to address population decline, including the establishment of youth startup housing, operation of a youth startup support center, and support projects to overcome low birth rates.
In the urban environment category, the district's efforts to improve residential environments were recognized, including the establishment of crime prevention infrastructure, the Gangdong-style Women's Safe Housing, and landscape improvements at Iljasan Neighborhood Park. In the support systems category, Gangdong District received high marks for its efforts to promote urban regeneration and prevent haphazard development, such as the Gangdong Grand Design Urban Development Plan, the creation of Amsa Hanok Village, and the development of Amsa History Park.
Mayor Soohee Lee stated, "Gangdong District is a self-governing district that is vigorously growing as a major city together with its 500,000 residents," adding, "We will continue to do our utmost to make Gangdong a proud and livable city by implementing policies that improve the quality of life for our residents."
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