Recipients of the 43rd Changwon City Cultural Award [Changwon City]
Recipients of the 43rd Changwon City Cultural Award [Changwon City]

Changwon has selected five recipients for the 43rd Changwon City Cultural Award, recognizing individuals who have contributed to local community development and the promotion of culture and the arts.

The award selection committee finalized one winner in each of five categories — literature, sports, community development, arts and youth — following a review on June 18.

Gong Yeong-hae, the literature category winner, was recognized for her leadership in advancing the local sijo poetry tradition and nurturing talent through modern literature education, including her tenure as president of the Changwon Writers' Association.

Kim Byeong-cheol, the sports category winner, was honored for his sustained support of local athletic organizations and events, including the Changwon Badminton Association, and his efforts to broaden participation in recreational sports.

Lee Sang-yeon, the community development category winner, is a local entrepreneur who has spent more than 40 years reinvesting business profits into the community, providing consistent support for culture, the arts and welfare.

Bae Sun-hwa, recognized in the sculpture and crafts field of the arts category, is a teaching assistant for traditional knotting — a South Gyeongsang Province intangible cultural heritage. She has spent more than 50 years preserving and promoting the craft through both transmission and original creative work.

Kim Mi-ju, this year's youth category special award recipient, coaches the athletics program at Seongji Girls' Middle School, a powerhouse in badminton. She was praised for developing Changwon's young sporting talent into world-class competitors, guiding her athletes to victories at the national championships by sport category and at the international junior championships.

The award ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 1 as part of the 16th Changwon Citizens' Day commemorative event at Changwon Velodrome in Changwon Leports Park.


ook967@heraldcorp.com