Ministry honors local governments for pollution-source monitoring

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy said Thursday it will hold the 2026 Contest on Environmental Management of Emission-Source Facilities at the Nine Tree Premier Hotel Roka Us in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The contest aims to share local governments' best practices in managing pollution-emitting facilities and to establish a robust environmental management system to protect public safety and health. It will feature on-site presentations from six local governments, with prize money awarded based on the results of field evaluations.

Among the six best-practice cases to be presented at the contest are Gangwon Province's plan to expand support and communication with emission-source businesses, Gyeonggi Province's use of advanced equipment for smart facility management, and a soundproof forest project in Namhae-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, designed to promote mutual benefit between local residents and emission-source operators.

The event will also honor local governments and individuals who achieved outstanding results in managing pollution-emitting facilities, based on the 2025 evaluation of local governments' environmental management practices.

Gangwon Province, the top performer among the larger regional governments, will receive a presidential citation. Gyeongju, in North Gyeongsang Province, the top performer among the smaller municipal governments, will receive a prime ministerial citation, among other awards.

"Managing pollution-emitting facilities is the most basic safeguard for protecting the public's life and health," said Jin Myung-ho, an inspector general at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. "We will continue to work closely with local governments to create a pleasant and safe living environment where people can breathe with peace of mind."