Tourism Public Agency's 'Beom Naeryeonda' Selected as a Model Case for COVID-19 Crisis Management (Comprehensive)

'COVID-19 Crisis Management Global Evaluation Team' Award Ceremony Held on the 1st
Three Public Institutions Including Tourism Corporation Receive 'Grand Prize'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Korea Tourism Organization, the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS), and the Overseas Koreans Foundation have been selected as the most exemplary public institutions in COVID-19 crisis management.

The "Global COVID-19 Crisis Management Evaluation Team," composed of domestic and international private experts, held the "2021 COVID Crisis Management Awards" ceremony on the afternoon of the 1st at the Seoul Press Center and awarded the grand prize to these three institutions. Despite a significant decrease in inbound foreign tourists due to COVID-19, the Korea Tourism Organization was selected for the grand prize for creatively conducting non-face-to-face online promotional activities, such as the globally viral video "Beom-i is Coming," which enhanced the status of Korean tourism. EBS and the Overseas Koreans Foundation received grand prizes for their achievements in education policy and civic communication, and overseas Korean support policy, respectively. Moon Seung-jun, Director of the Administration Office at Daejeon Veterans Hospital of the Korea Veterans Health Service, and Noh Soo-yeol, Head of Administration at Changnyeong County Office, were also selected as outstanding public officials.

In the corporate sector, the "K-Quarantine Platform Project Group," a consortium centered on the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business Owners, won the grand prize. This was in recognition of their efforts to help 155 excellent domestic SMEs enter 50 countries worldwide with K-quarantine products. Superman, Eunhyerim Tech, Boromwat, Dasan Books, and Airpass were also among the awardees.

On the 1st, at the awards ceremony of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Global Evaluation Team held at the Seoul Press Center, the Korea Tourism Organization received the grand prize in the public institution category.

The "Hidden Contributors to Overcoming the Crisis" grand prize was awarded to Lee Wan-bae, the village chief of Tongilchon Village in the DMZ. Despite the dual difficulties of heightened inter-Korean tensions and the COVID crisis, Lee was recognized for his efforts to secure the livelihoods of local residents by seeking sales channels for local specialties. The excellence award went to Park Jun-ho, a teacher at Osan Daehoche Elementary School, among others.

In the education welfare policy sector, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education received the grand prize; in the global leader sector, Min Byung-chul, Chairman of the Sunfull Foundation; and in the K-Quarantine and global leadership sector, Paula Park, President of the Washington Korean Association, each received grand prizes. In the local government sector, 15 local governments including Daejeon Metropolitan City, Chungcheongnam-do, Nonsan City in Chungnam, Uijeongbu, Anyang, and Pyeongtaek Cities in Gyeonggi Province, Gangseo-gu and Seongdong-gu in Seoul, Yeongdong-gun in Chungbuk, Dong-gu in Busan, Namhae-gun and Changnyeong-gun in Gyeongnam (in the cooperative governance sector), Seo-gu in Gwangju, and Haenam-gun and Sinan-gun in Jeonnam received grand prizes. Five local governments including Michuhol-gu and Jung-gu in Incheon, Yesan-gun and Buyeo-gun in Chungnam, and Gimje City in Jeonbuk received the highest excellence awards, and Changnyeong-gun in Gyeongnam (in the civic communication sector) received the excellence award.

Chairman Choi Sung of the evaluation team stated, "Through active participation by local governments, we confirmed that outstanding COVID-19 crisis management achievements and the true strength of Korea's K-Quarantine originated from local governance involving citizens." He added, "We are actively considering academically evaluating the COVID-19 crisis management achievements confirmed through this contest at the summer academic conference of the Korean Local Autonomy Association to be held in Jeju Island this August."

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