Outstanding Legislative Competence Bridging Central and Local Governments
Sweeping Awards from National Grand Prizes to Provincial Council Honors
Proven Policies in Education, Housing, Safety, and Future Industries
Demonstrating Professionalism and Responsible Politics
Kim Joungho, a Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member (People Power Party, Gumi 6), was honored with four major legislative awards as he wrapped up the year 2025 on December 19.
Following his achievement last year, Assemblyman Kim received the Grand Prize for the second consecutive year at the "2025 Korea Local Autonomy Evaluation Legislative Policy Awards." He also won the Excellence Award at the "5th WeMin Legislative Awards," further demonstrating his outstanding capabilities externally.
In addition, he was recognized internally and externally as a four-time legislative award winner, receiving the "2025 Outstanding Council Member Award for Administrative Affairs Audit and 2026 Budget Review," and having his affiliated research group, the "Gyeongsangbuk-do Student Mental Health Education Policy Research Association," selected as the top research group.
(Left) Park Sungman, Chairman of Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (Right) Kim Joungho, Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Member, Recipient of the 2025 Korea Local Autonomy Evaluation Legislative Policy Award / Photo by Kim Ihwan
The "Local Autonomy Evaluation Legislative Policy Award," organized by the Yeouido Policy Research Institute, is presented to council members who have contributed to improving residents' quality of life and regional development in the era of local governance. The "WeMin Legislative Award," sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the four major local government associations, is a prestigious award that comprehensively evaluates local council members' legislative activities in terms of professionalism, diligence, and policy effectiveness.
For over a decade, Assemblyman Kim has demonstrated his determination to "always keep promises to residents" by leading the opening of Sandong High School and the establishment of Haemaru High School (scheduled for 2028), which had been long-awaited in the Sandong and Yangpo areas of Gumi.
In particular, he was highly praised for attracting the "Gyeongbuk Early Childhood Education Promotion Institute" to Gumi, a project worth 42.4 billion KRW (as of 2025), and for shifting the paradigm from a simple educational facility to a "complex cultural space" open to residents.
His expertise as a member of the Education Committee also played a significant role. Assemblyman Kim devoted himself to legislative activities to guarantee students' right to learn and improve educational conditions, achieving outstanding results in areas such as the installation and operation of modular classrooms, promotion of early childhood education, and support for inclusive education for students with special needs.
Furthermore, regarding the region's most pressing issue, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport, he took the lead not only for the project's success but also to uphold the fundamental value of "protecting residents' property rights." He also actively voiced field-based opinions on the Gumi 5th Complex High-Tech Valley to secure future industrial engines for Gyeongbuk.
Ultimately, this series of awards is a testament to Assemblyman Kim's field-oriented legislative activities, which have brought about tangible changes in residents' lives through broad policy insight spanning education, housing, safety, and future industries.
The "2025 Outstanding Council Member Award for Administrative Affairs Audit and 2026 Budget Review," presented by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Council, is the result of Assemblyman Kim's meticulous and effective legislative work.
During this year's administrative affairs audit, Assemblyman Kim strongly called for identifying the causes of rising private education expenses, restoring trust in public education, and establishing standards for school principals' business trips, thereby emphasizing responsible and substantial administration and greater transparency in operations.
In the budget review, he took the lead in deliberating on securing future growth engines for Gyeongbuk, addressing issues such as the fairness of the public servant housing stability fund operation, supplementing strategies to expand the Gumi Defense Industry Cluster and K-Defense exports, enhancing the settlement effect of the K-Top Tier Talent Development Project, and strengthening the effectiveness of low birthrate response projects.
His research-focused legislative activities also bore significant fruit. The "Gyeongsangbuk-do Student Mental Health Education Policy Research Association," of which Assemblyman Kim is a member, was selected as the council's best research group after successfully completing the "Body and Mind Care Research Project."
Assemblyman Kim did not stop at research achievements but connected them to legislation by sponsoring the partial amendment ordinance bill on supporting student health promotion at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education, which passed the plenary session. He also passed the partial amendment ordinance bill on the management and utilization of closed school properties at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education, which is expected to further enhance the protection of students' health rights and the efficient management of educational finances.
In his acceptance speech, Assemblyman Kim stated, "I believe this is the result of my efforts to listen with my heart to residents' voices, from small neighborhood complaints to major issues like the new airport." He added, "I take this award as encouragement to work even harder, and I will continue to devote myself to legislative activities for the development of Gyeongbuk and the happiness of its residents."
He continued, "In particular, I will do my utmost during the remainder of my term to realize policies that connect educational infrastructure and the local economy, so that Gumi can become the center of early childhood education in Gyeongbuk and a 'city ideal for raising children.'"
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