"Recognized for Excellence in Local Cultural Policy"
Gokseong County won the Grand Prize for Excellence for two consecutive years at the 2025 Korea Value Culture Awards. Photo by Gokseong County
Gokseong County in South Jeolla Province, led by Governor Cho Sangrae, has once again proven the excellence of its local cultural policies by winning the Grand Prize for two consecutive years at the "2025 Korea Value Culture Awards."
The Korea Value Culture Awards, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Institute of Cultural Value, recognize local governments and institutions that have discovered and implemented unique cultural projects, expanded opportunities for residents to enjoy culture, and contributed to the development of regional culture.
This year, the evaluation was based on seven criteria, including strengthening regional identity, resident participation and communication, the economic impact of cultural projects, and accessibility to arts and culture. Both qualitative and quantitative assessments were combined to select 25 institutions.
Gokseong County received high praise for several initiatives: the opening of the Gokseong Children's Library, which helped bridge the cultural gap in rural areas; the successful hosting of the ecological culture festival "Korea River Day: Capital of the Seomjin River, Gokseong Conference"; organizing traditional temple music concerts alongside national heritage sites; presenting the experimental stage "Seomjin River International Experimental Arts Festival," where nature and art coexist; creating a daily cultural ecosystem that allows residents to enjoy culture in their everyday lives; and actively supporting local youth to pursue and develop their artistic dreams through the Gokseong County Youth Orchestra.
In particular, the Gokseong Children's Library has played a major role in revitalizing intergenerational exchange by offering various programs in which both local residents and tourists can participate, providing a space for creative learning and hands-on experiences. This achievement was met with enthusiastic support from the community and was selected as the "Outstanding Policy of the Year" by county residents last year.
On September 22, Governor Cho Sangrae stated, "This award was made possible thanks to the active participation and support of our residents. We will continue to ensure that everyone in the county can enjoy culture in their daily lives and work to further spread the cultural value of our region."
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