Uiseong County Redefines the Standard for Energy Transition

Top Prize at Gyeongbuk Energy Awards
A National Model Excelling in Renewable Energy, Welfare, and Policy Integration

Uiseong County has set a new benchmark for local energy policy by winning the top prize at the 2025 Gyeongsangbuk-do Energy Awards.

The county’s efforts have been recognized as a “triangular axis completion model,” excelling in renewable energy adoption, energy welfare, and policy effectiveness. The 40 million won prize fund secured through this achievement is expected to be directly invested in further advancing the county’s energy transition policies.

Uiseong County Office. Photo by Byunggeon Kwon

◆ ‘Energy Self-Sufficiency Across All Regions’ Connecting East and West... A Rare Design Among Local Governments

The Gyeongbuk Energy Awards are known for their rigorous evaluation, comprehensively assessing 22 local governments in the province on policy development, resident participation, renewable energy adoption, and energy-saving outcomes. Uiseong County has consistently passed the annual selection for the renewable energy convergence support project, demonstrating its strong planning capabilities and ability to secure national funding.

In 2025, the county supplied equipment to 308 sites in the eastern region with a total investment of 3.1 billion won. For the following year, it was again selected with the highest score, securing expansion to 302 sites in the western region.

This structure, which encompasses both the eastern and western regions, is rarely seen among small and medium-sized local governments. Experts describe it as a “leading design for local-level energy self-sufficiency infrastructure.”

◆ Support for 199 Vulnerable Households and Facilities... Improving ‘Quality of Life’ Beyond Energy Savings

The excellence of an energy policy is ultimately proven when local residents can directly feel its benefits, and Uiseong County has targeted this precisely. By investing a total of 300 million won in 81 welfare facilities and 118 low-income households, the county provided high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, heat recovery ventilation units, and high-efficiency LED lighting-equipment that delivers tangible savings in daily living costs.

This initiative is evaluated as more than just a “cost-saving policy”; it has evolved into a “lifestyle energy welfare” model that extends to enhancing residential health and safety.

◆ Governor Kim Joosu: “Local Regions Must Become the Testing Ground for National Energy Transition”

Regarding the award, Uiseong County Governor Kim Joosu stated, “A major energy transition based on renewable energy is the path Uiseong County must take. We will demonstrate through our achievements that local governments can drive national change in the era of carbon neutrality.”

Governor Kim’s remarks go beyond a simple acceptance speech, conveying the message that local governments must become functional leaders in national energy policy.

◆ Three Key Lessons from the ‘Uiseong Model’

Policy experts evaluate Uiseong County’s achievement as a textbook example of local energy policy, highlighting three core aspects:

▲ Structured policy planning-a design system that enables annual national funding acquisition ▲ Balanced distribution strategy-designing the entire region as a single energy ecosystem ▲ Realistic welfare and savings impact-policies that lead to improved quality of life for vulnerable groups

The ‘Uiseong Model’ developed by Uiseong County is likely to become a benchmark for other local governments not only in Gyeongbuk but across the nation. As the speed and completeness of energy transition become directly linked to regional competitiveness, Uiseong County’s next steps are drawing even greater attention.