Yeongdeungpo-gu District Mayor Jo Yu-jin. [Yeongdeungpo-gu]
Yeongdeungpo-gu District Mayor Jo Yu-jin. [Yeongdeungpo-gu]

Yeongdeungpo-gu announced Monday that it received a commendation from the chair of the Presidential Commission on Local Balance Development at the "2026 Balanced Growth Project Excellence Awards and Performance Exhibition," organized by the commission.

The recognition marks the first time a Seoul district has received such an award in 11 years, since Guro-gu was honored in 2015 for its streetscape improvement project at the Guro Digital Complex.

The commission evaluates the outcomes of projects funded through the Special Account for Regional Balanced Development each year, selecting outstanding cases from local governments nationwide. Under the vision of becoming "a cultural city of friendship and hospitality," Yeongdeungpo-gu has pursued resident-led cultural initiatives tailored to the distinct character of neighborhoods including Yeouido, Dangsan, Yangpyeong, Singil, Daelim and Mullae. The district was recognized for narrowing cultural disparities within the community and building a resident-centered cultural ecosystem under the theme of "a cultural city of diversity and inclusion in full bloom," contributing to balanced regional development.

The district's flagship initiative, the "Neighborhood Cultural Ambassador" program, invites residents to uncover the stories and issues of their own communities and channel them into cultural activities. A total of 1,140 residents took part across 23 resident-led projects.

The district also established a "15-Minute Cultural Zone" by linking 41 cultural hub spaces across the area, allowing residents to access cultural activities within 15 minutes of their homes. It also built cooperative frameworks with other municipalities, including the "Anyangcheon Culture Week" with seven cities that share the Anyangcheon riverside, and "Culture Line 1," a partnership with cities connected along the No. 1 subway line.


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