Jinan County in North Jeolla Province announced on August 2 that it is accepting nominations for the '2026 Jinan Citizen's Award,' aimed at recognizing individuals dedicated to local development and community service.
The Jinan Citizen's Award is the county's highest honor, with one recipient selected from each of seven categories: Leadership, Culture, Public Service, Industrial Labor, Patriotism, Filial Piety, and Sports, totaling seven awardees.
Nominees should be individuals who have quietly dedicated themselves to the advancement of Jinan and the welfare of its residents.
Eligibility criteria include: being a resident of Jinan County for at least one year as of the announcement date, having a registered domicile in Jinan County, having worked for at least one year at a local workplace, or being a graduate of a school located in Jinan County.
Nominations can be submitted through heads of institutions, leaders of social organizations, or town and village heads.
The submission period runs from August 3 to August 31.
Required documents include a nomination letter, a record of achievements, a summary of contributions, a resident registration certificate or basic certificate, a color photo, and supporting evidence of contributions.
After the submission deadline, the county will conduct on-site evaluations of the nominees' contributions and select the final awardees through a rigorous review by the 'Citizen's Award Review Committee.'
The awards ceremony will take place on October 12 during the '64th Jinan Citizen's Day' celebration.
Jin Chun-sung, the county mayor, stated, 'The Jinan Citizen's Award is a meaningful recognition of the efforts of those who have supported and developed our community. I encourage residents and relevant organizations to actively participate in nominating outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to Jinan.'
In 2025, the recipients of the Jinan Citizen's Award included Shin Pal-bok (79) for Culture, Park Kwan-woo (60) for Public Service, Son Du-su (59) for Industrial Labor, Heo Hyun (69) for Patriotism, Jeon Yeong-ja (81) for Filial Piety, and Kim Man-seong (56) for Sports, totaling six awardees.
This year, the Jinan Plateau Mai Mountain Pepper Market will operate from August 4 to October 4 at the Jinan Red Ginseng Herbal Center.
According to the county on August 2, Jinan peppers are cultivated in a highland area above 400 meters, benefiting from significant temperature differences and a clean natural environment, resulting in vibrant colors, excellent aroma, and thick skins that yield a high amount of pepper powder.
Additionally, the peppers maintain a balance of freshness and shelf life, preserving the traditional taste of Korean peppers.
Due to their superior quality, they have garnered consistent popularity among consumers nationwide.
This year, the pepper market will be relocated from the temporary parking lot of the existing Jinan Market to the area around the Jinan Red Ginseng Herbal Center.
The market will operate on the 4th and 9th of each month from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Consumers will have the opportunity to purchase high-quality dried Jinan peppers directly from the farmers at reasonable prices.
This year's pepper market will introduce various measures to enhance trust. Farmers will wear identification badges while selling, and the packaging for the pepper market will feature the producer's name and production area, implementing a real-name system for packaging. Additionally, a 'Jinan Pepper Production Confirmation Certificate' will be included inside the packaging, allowing consumers to verify that the peppers were produced in Jinan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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