Over 1,000 attend; 18 receive governor's commendation

Park Wan-su: 'Deeply grateful for your dedication and hard work'

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su poses with award recipients at last year's provincial community leaders' rally. [The Herald Business DB]
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su poses with award recipients at last year's provincial community leaders' rally. [The Herald Business DB]

South Gyeongsang Province held its 2026 Community Leaders' Rally at Okcheon Hall in Hadong-gun on Wednesday, drawing more than 1,000 ri and tong leaders and officials from 18 cities and counties across the province. The event was organized to recognize the efforts of community leaders who have worked to advance their neighborhoods and protect residents during disasters.

The province amended its ordinance on community leader activity support in February, establishing a legal basis for designating a "Community Leaders' Day." Wednesday's rally was the first held since that amendment took effect. At the event, 18 exemplary community leaders — including Lee Seong-u, chair of the Gimhae chapter of the National Ri and Tong Leaders' Association — received the governor's commendation.

In his address, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su said the province's roughly 8,000 ri and tong leaders "serve as a vital bridge between residents and the administration on the front lines of governance." Park added that he was "deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of those who stepped up without hesitation to protect the lives and safety of residents amid urgent disasters, including large-scale wildfires and torrential rains."

Park also said the province would "spare no effort in providing support so that community leaders can carry out their work with great pride," noting that an amendment to the Local Autonomy Act set to take effect next year would formally codify their legal status.

Jeong Dae-hyeong, head of the South Gyeongsang chapter of the National Ri and Tong Leaders' Association, said in an interview that while the Local Autonomy Act amendment passed by the National Assembly fell somewhat short on tangible allowances and benefits, he was "deeply grateful that South Gyeongsang Province has shown exceptional attention — becoming the first in the country to provide special disaster activity payments." Jeong pledged that community leaders would "cooperate more closely with the administration, in line with the province's support."

The province has been working with cities and counties to continuously cover group accident insurance premiums and comprehensive health checkup costs for community leaders to boost morale and improve welfare. In addition, the province is actively pursuing procedures to pay special disaster activity payments under the revised ordinance and securing the necessary budget to strengthen practical support for community leaders active at the front lines of disaster response.


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