Jinju City Holds 31st Citizens' Day Ceremony... Around 2,500 Attend

Event Marks Victory at the Battle of Jinju... Jinju Citizen Award Presented and Joint Nongak Performance Held Across 30 Districts
Jang Ilyoung Receives Jinju Citizen Award... Issues Related to the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City Also Shared

Jinju City in Gyeongsangnam-do said on the 11th that it held the 31st Jinju Citizens' Day ceremony at the outdoor stage along the Namgang River in Chilam-dong, with around 2,500 people, including residents and representatives of local organizations and institutions, in attendance.

Attendees included Jinju Mayor Cho Gyuil, Gyeongsangnam-do provincial councilors, Jinju City Council members, representatives of local organizations and institutions, and residents.

[Photo provided by Jinju City] Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il, members of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Council and Jinju City Council, representatives of local organizations and groups, and residents pose for a commemorative photo at the 31st Jinju Citizens' Day ceremony held at the Namgang Outdoor Stage in Chilam-dong.

Jinju Citizens' Day was established in 1995, following the merger of Jinyang County and Jinju City, to commemorate October 10, the date of the victory at the Battle of Jinju in 1592 during the Japanese invasions of Korea.

Each year, the city holds a commemorative event to reflect on the historical significance of the Battle of Jinju and promote interaction and harmony among residents.

The ceremony opened with pre-event performances by the Jinju Municipal Korean Traditional Music Orchestra, a popera singer, and a children's choir.

The program continued with the reading of the Citizens' Charter, the presentation of the Jinju Citizen Award, commemorative and congratulatory speeches, a sing-along of the citizens' song, a commemorative performance, and a celebratory performance by invited singers.

In particular, the commemorative performance delivered a message about the "completion of the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City," which Jinju City is pursuing as a key local priority.

The city identified attracting the integrated headquarters of state-run power generation companies to Jinju, reconsidering the separation of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) functions, and the second relocation of public institutions from the Seoul metropolitan area as key priorities. It also called for local communities' interest in and cooperation with related policies.

Following the ceremony, a joint Nongak performance took place with the participation of agricultural music troupes from all 30 eup, myeon, and dong administrative districts in Jinju.

The troupes from each area performed traditional Nongak around the outdoor stage along the Namgang River, while residents also joined the event, watched the performances, and enjoyed time together.

The ceremony also included the presentation of the Jinju Citizen Award, which is given to residents who have contributed to the development of the local community.

This year's recipient, Jang Ilyoung, has served as an editorial board member at Gyeongnam Ilbo, a guest commentator for KBS, and vice chairman of the Jinju Culture and Arts Foundation, among other roles. He has also worked as a cultural tourism interpreter since 2005.

Jang was recognized for his contributions to documenting and promoting Jinju's history and cultural heritage, including his work on local history publications and regional materials.

His contributions to preserving local culture and promoting tourism were also cited, including organizing historical and cultural materials and introducing Jinju's cultural heritage to tourists and residents.

In his commemorative address, Jinju Mayor Cho Gyuil said, "I am grateful to all the residents who have helped shape Jinju today," adding, "We will work to resolve issues related to the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City and foster future growth industries, including the aerospace industry."

Jinju City plans to use Citizens' Day as an opportunity to share the historical significance of the region and sustain interaction within the local community through participatory cultural events and traditional performances.

The 31st Jinju Citizens' Day ceremony was held with around 2,500 residents in attendance, providing an opportunity to reflect on the historical significance of the Battle of Jinju and share key local issues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.