Sole Korean local government to win the WHO Healthy City Award, also claims the AFHC Healthy City Award for a double win
Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul announced that it won two international healthy city awards at the 11th Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC) International Conference, held Sept. 1.
The district was recognized for its achievements as a healthy city, winning the "Reducing Health Inequity Through Community Engagement" category of the 2026 WHO Healthy City Award, given by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the 2026 AFHC Healthy City Award, given by the Alliance for Healthy Cities.
Eunpyeong-gu was the only local government in South Korea to receive the 2026 WHO Healthy City Award.
The district earned high marks for strengthening cooperation between health and welfare sectors, and linking neighborhood community service centers with private health resources to build a resident-centered health management foundation. It also transformed supplier-driven health care services into a "mutual care system" that residents can feel the benefits of directly.
Eunpyeong-gu said it plans to keep strengthening public-private cooperation that links neighborhood community service centers with local health and welfare resources, and to continue pursuing health policies that residents can feel the impact of.
"This double win at the international healthy city awards is the result of residents, the local community and the administration working together to build a community health safety net," said Eunpyeong-gu District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung. "We will continue to guarantee residents' right to health and build Eunpyeong into a healthy city where no one is left behind."
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