On the morning of July 6, the ministry held the "2026 Second Special Achievements and Public Servant Awards Ceremony" at the Han River Flood Control Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where it recognized 16 public servants for their outstanding contributions.
The special achievements and awards program aims to foster a proactive public service culture by rewarding civil servants who have delivered exceptional results. This marks the second round of awards following the inaugural ceremony in April.
Among the award-winning initiatives, four key projects were identified for their contributions to accelerating carbon neutrality and enhancing public safety and environmental protection between March and May of this year.
The top special achievement project is the "Establishment of Electric Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure for Decarbonization in the Transportation Sector."
The ministry introduced a new support fund for transitioning from internal combustion vehicles to reduce the financial burden of purchasing electric vehicles. Additionally, it implemented a revised charging fee structure and discount programs to alleviate costs for users. In response to high oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, the ministry secured an additional 150 billion won in subsidies for 29,000 electric vehicles to support low-income households and small businesses.
Another notable project recognized was the "Innovation of Heat Energy Management Systems to Establish a Foundation for Renewable Heat Transition."
The ministry's achievement included amending the enforcement decree of the Renewable Energy Act in March to include air heat energy in the renewable energy category and establishing detailed recognition criteria for heat pump distribution. This initiative is seen as a foundational step toward transitioning from fossil fuel-based heating to environmentally friendly thermal energy.
Encouragement awards were given for projects aimed at enhancing flood response through the utilization of existing dams and reservoirs and for the designation of Geumjeongsan National Park, the first urban national park in the southeastern region.
The ministry reported that it has secured an additional flood control capacity of 1.04 billion tons by utilizing the storage space of existing dams and reservoirs, resulting in an estimated budget savings of 4 trillion won.
Furthermore, the long-delayed designation process for Geumjeongsan National Park was completed, laying the groundwork for ecological conservation and regional tourism revitalization in the southeastern area.
Minister Kim Seong-hwan stated, "This achievement reflects our bold efforts to address issues directly impacting the lives of citizens in the transition to decarbonization. We will continue to strive to lead in tackling the challenges posed by the climate crisis."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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