"A Gyeongnam to Be Proud Of 50 Years From Now" ... Ceremony Marks 43rd Gyeongnam Residents' Day

The ceremony marking the 43rd anniversary of Gyeongnam Residents' Day was held on a special stage in the plaza at the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government on the afternoon of Oct. 14.

Gyeongnam Residents' Day was established to commemorate Oct. 14, the date the 63rd National Sports Festival was held in what was then Masan in 1982. It was discontinued in 1993, then revived in 2023 following the launch of the eighth elected provincial administration, and has been held every year since.

The ceremony marking the 43rd Gyeongnam Residents' Day is being held on a special stage in the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government plaza. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

In his commemorative address, Governor Park Wansoo said, "Every single person here is a proud resident of Gyeongnam," adding, "Gyeongnam has played a major role at the center of the nation at every critical juncture, and our residents possess wisdom, ingenuity, courage and resilience."

He expressed his gratitude, saying, "Fifty years ago, our predecessors built the Changwon National Industrial Complex and planted the seeds of the defense industry. Those seeds have blossomed today into K-defense, K-nuclear power and K-shipbuilding, placing Gyeongnam at the heart of South Korea."

He stressed, "Now it is our turn to do our part so we can pass on a thriving Gyeongnam to the generations that follow us in 50 or 100 years," adding, "We must foster not only Gyeongnam's key industries but also the physical AI industry, the nuclear industry, including small modular reactors (SMRs), and the aerospace industry, so that future generations can say they accomplished great things."

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu delivers commemorative remarks at a ceremony marking the 43rd Gyeongsangnam-do Residents' Day. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

He also said, "With the start of the ninth elected provincial administration, we began taking on that role without hesitation," and cited recent achievements, including the designation of specialized complexes for shipbuilding materials, parts and equipment and for advanced aircraft engines, as well as the inclusion of nine national and local road projects in government plans.

"Soon, agreements for many companies to invest in Gyeongnam will be moving forward one after another," he said, adding, "I am confident those investments will blossom into outstanding industries in the future."

Governor Park pledged, "It is the people of Gyeongnam who have safeguarded the province and made it what it is today, and their spirit is alive and well. I will work hard with the 3.3 million residents of our 18 cities and counties to build a proud Gyeongnam and make it the leading province in South Korea."

He also said he would do his utmost to make Gyeongnam a place where young people can freely pursue their dreams and build their lives, asking everyone to work together with a shared purpose.

At the ceremony marking the 43rd Gyeongnam Residents' Day, heads and deputy heads of 18 cities and counties, led by Changwon Mayor Kang Kiyoon, enter hand in hand with children. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

This year's Gyeongnam Residents' Day was held under the theme "A Great Leap Forward for Gyeongnam with Its Residents!"

Governor Park Wansoo and the heads and deputy heads of the 18 cities and counties entered hand in hand with elementary school children. The children's future aspirations were introduced alongside slogans from each city and county, drawing attention.

The main program opened with a performance by Gomchi, a band from Changwon, Gyeongnam, that placed among the top five in the Gyeongnam Busking Challenge.

The program continued with the national ceremony, introductions of attendees, a video presentation of the theme, a reading of the Residents' Charter, the Proud Gyeongnam Citizen Awards, the governor's commemorative address, congratulatory remarks by the provincial council chair, and the screening of congratulatory videos from the mayors and county heads of the 18 cities and counties.

The theme video marked the 130th anniversary of the name "Gyeongsangnam-do." It looked back on Gyeongnam's history and honored the strength of its residents in shaping the province today, while also affirming a commitment to a new leap forward alongside future generations.

In particular, the video traced Gyeongnam's history since the name "Gyeongsangnam-do" first appeared in 1896, highlighting how the province has fulfilled its responsibilities and played a central role at major turning points in South Korea's modern history over the past 130 years, including the Korean War, democratization and industrialization.

The recipients of the “Proud Gyeongnam Person Award” at the ceremony marking the 43rd anniversary of Gyeongsangnam-do Residents’ Day pose for a commemorative photo with Governor Park Wansu (far left). [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

The Residents' Charter was read by Lt. Col. Jeon Seunghyeon, the first test pilot of the KF-21; student Kim Jion, recipient of the President's Award at the 2026 Korea Student Invention Exhibition; sculptor Kim Youngwon of the Gimhae City Kim Youngwon Art Museum; firefighter Ra Jiwon, who received Heart Saver certification for providing emergency care to a cardiac arrest patient; and student Kim Konstantin of the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education's International Education Exchange Group.

At the second Proud Gyeongnam Citizen Awards, six people received honors across five categories: economy; culture, arts and sports; social contribution; good deeds, filial piety and family; and veterans affairs.

The recipients were Seo Youngok, CEO of Fine Technology, in the economy category; Eom Honggil, executive director of the Eom Honggil Human Foundation, in culture, arts and sports; Kim Ssang-sik, CEO of Haengbok Bakery, and Lee Sangyeon, CEO of Gyeonghan Korea, in social contribution; Father Yu Uibae of the Order of Friars Minor in good deeds, filial piety and family; and Kim Sanggil, an adviser to the Korea Disabled Veterans Association, in veterans affairs.

The provincial arts troupe filled the stage during the celebratory performance with a show choir combining singing and choreography.

A commemorative performance is underway at the ceremony marking the 43rd anniversary of Gyeongsangnam-do Residents' Day. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

During the ceremony's commemorative performance, children representing future generations appeared wearing shining butterfly wings and presented "Starlight Umbrellas" to Governor Park Wansoo, Provincial Council Chair Park Jun, Superintendent of Education Kwon Sun-ki, and the mayors and county heads.

The attendees opened their umbrellas all at once as they chanted a slogan, expressing their resolve to carry forward the hopes of future generations and build a better Gyeongnam.

The ceremony concluded with all the residents who had joined the event singing "Song of the Residents" together.

The commemorative concert that followed featured the Goodday Men's Choir, which won the Popularity Award at the second Gyeongnam One Pick Artist competition, and Gyeongnam-born trot singers Seong Minji and Son Bina.

Before the Residents' Day event, Gyeongsangnam-do operated booths where visitors could learn about and experience tourism, festivals and specialty products from the province's 18 cities and counties.

The province and all 18 cities and counties also held a joint promotional event for the Hometown Love Donation Program, collecting a total of 377 donations worth 38 million won and adding to the significance of Residents' Day.

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