Lee Min-keun, the mayor of Ansan, expressed his appreciation on August 26, stating, "This award reflects the positive recognition of the stories of citizens who have shaped Ansan's 40-year history together."
On this day, Mayor Lee announced that Ansan received the 'Excellence Award in Citizen Participation PR' at the '2026 Korea Public PR Awards' organized by the Korean Advertising and Public Relations Association.
His focus on placing citizens' voices at the center of urban promotion through citizen participation has garnered attention for its excellence in the public relations sector in South Korea.
The 'Korea Public PR Awards' aims to discover outstanding promotional cases from local governments and public institutions, enhancing effective communication between citizens and public agencies while promoting the value of public communication.
This award is particularly significant as it concretely implements Mayor Lee's emphasis on citizen-centered administration and the promotion of a city brand created in collaboration with its residents.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Ansan's city status this year, the slogan '40 Years Achieved Together, 100 Years Ahead Together' was adopted. The city moved away from one-sided government-led commemorative promotions to a citizen participation campaign that captures the lives and memories of the true owners of Ansan—the citizens.
The campaign's core was not just interviewing citizens but showcasing the past, present, and future of the city through the stories of those who have lived in Ansan for 40 years.
Mayor Lee met with various citizens, including skilled workers who have worked for 43 years in the Banwol Industrial Complex, fishermen who have made their lives along the West Sea and cherish memories of the Saripo Port and narrow-gauge trains, as well as youth and children who were born and raised in Ansan.
The stories shared by these citizens became the history of Ansan.
From the growth of Ansan as an industrial city to memories of the sea, ports, narrow-gauge trains, childhood recollections, and daily lives, the narratives collectively presented a multifaceted view of Ansan's 40 years.
The stories gathered were produced in various formats, including short promotional videos, short-form content, behind-the-scenes footage, and long-form content, which were shared with the citizens.
By transcending traditional administrative promotion frameworks, the city created a brand where citizens participated and their voices became the focal point of the content.
The recognition of viewing each citizen's life as a valuable urban asset is seen as a significant factor in the award.
Rather than merely describing '40 years of history' as a timeline or achievements, the approach of conveying it through the actual experiences and memories of citizens has differentiated this initiative, fostering empathy and participation among the community.
Mayor Lee plans to collaborate with KBS's 'Docu-On,' which is set to air in October, to present content that highlights Ansan's past, present, and future.
Through this, he aims to share citizens' stories beyond the local area and further expand the value of Ansan's city brand.
In response to the award news, citizens expressed their approval, stating, "I appreciate that Ansan's history is shown through the stories of its citizens rather than administrative documents," and, "I resonate with the idea that the memories of long-time residents are indeed the history of Ansan."
Most importantly, citizens who have directly experienced Ansan's growth as an industrial city remarked, "The stories of ordinary citizens who have worked in the Banwol Industrial Complex and raised children carry significance as the history of Ansan."
One citizen noted, "The 40 years are not just a grand number but represent someone's work life, family memories, and childhood experiences. I hope this citizen-centered promotion continues."
Mayor Lee emphasized, "In the future, I will continue to capture the precious memories and lives of each citizen as urban assets and maintain promotional efforts in collaboration with the community."
Meanwhile, the mayor plans to actively discover more citizen participation promotional content as a result of this award and develop the lives and voices of citizens into a unique urban brand asset for Ansan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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