43rd South Gyeongsang Province Day ceremony held

2,000 residents gather at provincial office plaza

Six honored with 'Proud South Gyeongsang Person' award, including Um Hong-gil

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su delivers a congratulatory address at the 43rd South Gyeongsang Province Day ceremony held on a special outdoor stage at the provincial office plaza on Wednesday afternoon. [South Gyeongsang Province]
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su delivers a congratulatory address at the 43rd South Gyeongsang Province Day ceremony held on a special outdoor stage at the provincial office plaza on Wednesday afternoon. [South Gyeongsang Province]

South Gyeongsang Province held its 43rd Province Day ceremony Wednesday afternoon on a special outdoor stage at the provincial office plaza in Changwon, drawing about 2,000 attendees including residents and city and county mayors. This year's event carried the slogan "A Great Leap Forward for South Gyeongsang with Its People," marking 130 years since the province was named and reaffirming a commitment to a new era of growth alongside future generations.

Governor Park Wan-su said in his address that the efforts of predecessors 50 years ago — building national industrial complexes and planting the seeds of the defense industry — had blossomed into today's achievements in defense, nuclear power and shipbuilding. "Now it is our turn to do our part so that we can pass on a great South Gyeongsang Province to the next generation 50 years from now," he said.

Park also said the province would develop the physical AI industry, small modular reactors and the aerospace sector to build a future the next generation can be proud of. "Together with the 3.3 million residents of 18 cities and counties, we will create a region where young people can freely pursue their dreams and build their lives in South Gyeongsang," he said.

Park cited recent achievements — including the designation of specialized complexes for shipbuilding parts, materials and equipment and for advanced aircraft engines, as well as the inclusion of nine national and local road projects in government plans — and pledged to continue efforts to foster future industries and drive regional development.

Five residents representing the province took the stage to read the Provincial Charter: Lt. Col. Jeon Seung-hyeon, the pilot who conducted the KF-21's first test flight; student Kim Ji-on, who won the presidential award at the 2026 Korea Student Invention Exhibition; sculptor Kim Young-won of the Gimhae City Museum of Art; firefighter Ra Ji-won, who received Heart Saver certification for performing emergency treatment on a cardiac arrest patient; and student Kim Constantine of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education's international education exchange program.

The second "Proud South Gyeongsang Person" awards ceremony followed, with six recipients honored across five categories: Seo Young-ok, chief executive of Hwain Technology, in the economy category; Um Hong-gil, standing director of the Um Hong-gil Human Foundation, in the culture, arts and sports category; Kim Ssang-sik, chief executive of Happy Bakery, and Lee Sang-yeon, chief executive of Gyeonghan Korea, in the social contribution category; Father Yoo Eui-bae of the Order of Friars Minor in the good deeds, filial piety and family category; and Kim Sang-gil, advisory committee member of the Korea Veterans Association of Wounded Soldiers and Police Officers, in the veterans affairs category.

Following the ceremony, a concert beginning at 6 p.m. celebrated the occasion with residents, featuring the Goodday Men's Choir — winner of the popularity award at the second South Gyeongsang One-Pick Artist competition — along with popular singers Son Bin-a and Seong Min-ji, both from South Gyeongsang Province.


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