"It is an honor to receive the Songpa Citizen Grand Prize. I will carry on the patriotic spirit of independence activists and their descendants together with our community."
Those were the words of the head of the Songpa-gu chapter of the Korea Liberation Association upon receiving last year's Songpa Citizen Award. Songpa-gu has long honored those whose dedication spoke louder than their name, and this year is no different. Seoul's Songpa-gu, led by District Mayor Seo Gang-seok, is accepting nominations through Aug. 12 for unsung heroes who have quietly served their neighbors across the district.
Established in 2012, the Songpa Citizen Award is the district's most prestigious honor, presented to individuals and groups that have contributed to local development and community vitality. A total of 150 people and teams have received the award to date.
This year's awards span eight categories: civic grand prize, filial piety, volunteerism, model youth, community harmony, education and culture and sports, local economic revitalization, and civic society organizations.
Nominees must have resided in Songpa-gu or operated a business there for at least three years as of the announcement date of June 24. However, the education and culture and sports, local economic revitalization, and civic society organizations categories carry no residency requirement.
Nominations may be submitted jointly through the head of the nominee's local administrative office, backed by the signatures of at least 10 residents, or put forward by the heads of relevant institutions or organizations in each category, school principals, or at least two district assembly members.
Completed nomination forms and supporting documents should be submitted to Songpa-gu's Administrative Affairs Division or a local community center. Forms are available for download on the Songpa-gu website. Candidates will be reviewed and selected by the Citizen Award screening committee. The awards ceremony is scheduled for the "Citizens' Day" commemoration event in September or October.
"Songpa-gu's growth has been made possible by residents who gave their time and effort without seeking recognition, dedicating themselves to the community in ways that often go unseen," District Mayor Seo said. "In the ninth elected term as well, we will continue to run the district in a way that respects and honors the dedication and service of every resident as a sovereign member of this community."
"There are still many unsung contributors around us who have yet to be recognized," he added. "We ask residents to actively nominate and participate so that the proud neighbors who have brought honor to Songpa can receive the recognition they deserve."
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