Geumcheon-gu is accepting nominations for the 31st Geumcheon-gu Citizen Award through Sept. 11, the district office announced. District Mayor Choi Ki-chan heads the office.
The Geumcheon-gu Citizen Award is presented annually to recognize residents and organizations that have devoted themselves to advancing local governance and community development, with the aim of honoring their contributions and fostering civic pride.
Awards will be given in four categories: community service, traditional virtues, culture and education, and special.
The community service category recognizes individuals who have served the community and its residents. The traditional virtues category honors those who have contributed to preserving and promoting values such as filial piety, respect for elders, acts of goodwill, neighborly care and village community activities.
The culture and education category is open to individuals who have contributed to educational development — including lifelong education and mentoring the next generation — as well as those who have promoted grassroots sports among residents, advanced local athletics, or made notable contributions to culture, the arts, media or entertainment.
The special category was introduced for the first time last year. It recognizes individuals or organizations that have sacrificed themselves to protect the lives and property of residents, elevated Geumcheon-gu's profile through domestic or international activities in a specific field, or made exceptional contributions to local development.
Eligible nominees must be residents or organizations — or members of organizations — that have continuously lived or been based in Geumcheon-gu for at least three years as of the announcement date of Aug. 13. However, the special category carries no residency requirement, given the nature of the contributions it recognizes.
Candidates must be jointly recommended by at least 20 Geumcheon-gu residents, or nominated by the head of a relevant institution or organization in the applicable category. Authorized nominators from institutions include department heads, neighborhood administrative chiefs and school principals.
Those wishing to submit a nomination may download the required forms from the "Notices and Announcements" section of the Geumcheon-gu website, complete the recommendation letter, merit statement and supporting documentation, and submit them to the relevant department for each category or to the community service center in the candidate's neighborhood.
The district will investigate each candidate's record of merit and then select final recipients through deliberation by the Geumcheon-gu Citizen Award Merit Review Committee. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the "Residents' Day" commemorative event in October.
"The Geumcheon-gu Citizen Award was created to express our small token of gratitude to those who work tirelessly behind the scenes for Geumcheon-gu," District Mayor Choi said. "We hope you will nominate the hidden heroes of Geumcheon-gu around you."
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