South Gyeongsang Province wins excellence award for 'Gyeongnam Citizens Pension'

Jinju takes top prize for future mobility project

Geoje, Uiryeong-gun also honored for signature policy initiatives

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su discusses policy outcomes and development plans with enrollees at a Gyeongnam Citizens Pension communication forum held at the provincial government office in April. [South Gyeongsang Province]
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su discusses policy outcomes and development plans with enrollees at a Gyeongnam Citizens Pension communication forum held at the provincial government office in April. [South Gyeongsang Province]

South Gyeongsang Province, Jinju, Geoje and Uiryeong-gun each received awards at the 22nd Korea Local Governance Management Competition, hosted by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, in recognition of their signature policy initiatives.

The competition is designed to identify and promote creative policies and best practices from local governments across the country. This year, 31 cases were selected as outstanding examples from among the key policies submitted by 243 local governments nationwide, spanning four categories: livelihood stabilization, regional vitality, youth support and local resource development. South Gyeongsang Province stood out for having both its provincial government and three cities and counties recognized on the winners' list.

South Gyeongsang Province won an excellence award — the Minister of Interior and Safety Award — in the livelihood stabilization category for its Gyeongnam Citizens Pension program. The first of its kind in the country, the program provides up to 240,000 won ($177) annually to middle-aged residents facing an income gap between retirement and the start of their national pension payments, based on how much they contribute to an individual retirement pension account. The program drew 30,000 applicants across two recruitment rounds this year, closing early due to strong demand. The province plans to add 20,000 new enrollees in 2027 and 10,000 each year from 2028 onward. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Daejeon, among others, have begun benchmarking the program as a proactive welfare model.

Jinju claimed the top prize — the Presidential Award — for its Jinju-style future mobility project. The city introduced an integrated transport service called Jinju MaaS, a demand-responsive bus service called Hamo Call Bus, and a 100-won flat fare for children and teenagers on city buses to ease residents' commuting costs and improve convenience. It also became the first city in the country to introduce a cross-regional transfer discount system using a MaaS platform. Total ridership reached 14.77 million as of October this year, up 4.27 million from the previous year, while transportation costs fell by 12.1 billion won and greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 5,557 tons.

Geoje won an excellence award in the regional vitality category. Centered on an integrated food support center, the city built a local food distribution network linking large corporations, schools, public institutions and welfare facilities, generating 30.2 billion won in sales. The average income of participating farm households rose from 36 million won in 2024 to 39 million won in 2025, laying the groundwork for a virtuous cycle in the local economy.

Uiryeong-gun received an excellence award in the youth support category for its Uiryeong-style youth growth platform, which links cultural and leisure activities with employment, entrepreneurship, agricultural resettlement and residential support. The number of young households returning to farming reached 525 in 2025 and 457 as of September this year. Users of Cheongchunmangae, a youth hub space, grew from 1,114 in 2025 to 1,443 as of October this year, establishing it as a foundation for attracting young people and supporting their long-term settlement in the region.


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