Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Selects Recipients of the 42nd Proud Citizen Award

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it has selected seven citizens as recipients of the 42nd Proud Citizen Award for their dedication to the development of Busan and their exemplary practice of service and sacrifice.

Launched in 1985 and now in its 42nd year, the Proud Citizen Award is jointly organized by Busan Metropolitan City and Busan Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. It is presented in the name of the citizens of Busan to individuals with outstanding achievements in advancing the local community and improving social welfare in the three categories of Love for Busan, Service, and Sacrifice.

To select this year’s recipients, Busan Metropolitan City accepted nominations, conducted on-site fact-finding, and carried out a working-level review involving external judges before selecting the final seven awardees.

In particular, this year’s final screening committee meeting was held at DOMOHEON, a cultural complex for citizens, adding special significance to the occasion. Building on this initiative, the city plans to address major municipal issues and decisions together with citizens at DOMOHEON in the future.

This year’s Grand Prize was awarded to Jo Jeong-hui, Chair of the Busan Branch of the Korea Women Consumers Federation, who has contributed to the advancement of the consumer movement for more than 40 years.

Jo was recognized for her significant contributions to the development of Busan and the improvement of citizens’ quality of life through continued public-interest activities in a wide range of areas, including promoting women’s rights, protecting socially vulnerable groups, and conserving the environment.

In the Love for Busan category, the Main Award was presented to Bae Jung-hyo, Chair of the Buk-gu Council, Busan, of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council. In the Service category, the Main Award was presented to Yu Sun-deok, a volunteer counselor with LifeLine Korea, while the Encouragement Awards were presented to Kang Saeng-il, CEO of Hanchang Tower Co., Ltd.; Kim Yang-ae, CEO of the Umteuri Sharing Center; Kim Cheol, Chair of Busan Koryeo Hospital under the Koryeo Medical Foundation; and An Jae-mun, head of the An Jae-mun Judicial Scrivener Office.

Bae Jung-hyo, recipient of the Main Award in the Love for Busan category, contributed to improving community welfare through scholarship programs for young people and charitable donations. As the head of a local company, he also helped improve working conditions by rehiring older workers and maintaining a 30 percent retention rate for long-serving employees.

Yu Sun-deok, recipient of the Main Award in the Service category, has devoted herself to suicide prevention through 10,076 hours of volunteer telephone counseling over 44 years since 1982, while also actively participating in nighttime counseling and crisis counseling services.

Kang Saeng-il, a joint recipient of an Encouragement Award, has contributed to laying the foundation for unification by providing scholarships to local talent, volunteering to repair homes for housing-vulnerable residents in the community, providing Chuseok gifts to families of war veterans, offering civic security education, and supporting North Korean defectors.

Kim Yang-ae, a joint recipient of an Encouragement Award, established the Umteuri Sharing Center in 2021 and has carried out charitable and volunteer activities for vulnerable people who fall through gaps in the welfare system, including operating a free meal service twice a week and delivering boxed meals.

Kim Cheol, a joint recipient of an Encouragement Award, has supported low-income older adults, provided free health screenings and free public lectures for local residents, and promoted community donation activities, including support for a crime victim support center.

An Jae-mun, a joint recipient of an Encouragement Award, has carried out activities demonstrating care for neighbors since 2003, including providing free legal consultations and document preparation, making donations to organizations such as the Community Chest of Korea, volunteering at free meal services, and participating in coal briquette donation campaigns for people in need.

The awards will be presented to the recipients at the Busan Citizens’ Day commemorative ceremony on October 1.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “This year’s Proud Citizen Award recipients are individuals who have devoted themselves to our community in various fields across Busan, brought about positive change, and earned the recognition of their fellow citizens.”

He added, “I hope the recipients’ spirit of love for Busan, service, and sacrifice will resonate deeply throughout the community and serve as an example for others, helping make Busan a City of Happy Citizens that everyone can take pride in.”