Yeongcheon City Selects Bongki Son as 2025 Proud Citizen Award Recipient

On September 22, Yeongcheon City selected Bongki Son in the culture, education, and sports category at the 2025 Proud Citizen Award Review Committee.

The 'Yeongcheon City Proud Citizen Award' is a system that recognizes hidden contributors who have done their utmost in their respective positions to foster regional development and create a better Yeongcheon, based on civic pride. Since its inception in 1996, a total of 75 recipients have been honored up to last year.

Bongki Son, President of Yeongcheon City Athletics Federation

Bongki Son, who was chosen as this year's recipient in the culture, education, and sports category, has served as President of the Yeongcheon City Athletics Federation, actively supporting athletes and setting an example for other associations.

He has also dedicated himself to nurturing elite athletes in the region and expanding the base of sports for all, making significant contributions to the development of sports in Yeongcheon City.

In particular, he has been exceptionally passionate about discovering and fostering youth athletes, and his efforts have led to nationwide achievements.

At the 52nd National Youth Sports Festival held in Ulsan in 2023, students from Yeongcheon City won a total of 9 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals across six sports in addition to athletics, achieving the best results in the city's history.

In July, track and field athlete Lee Jaewoong won the men's 1500m at the '2025 Hokuren Distance Challenge Round 4' in Hokkaido, Japan, with a time of 3:36.01, breaking the Korean national record for the first time in 32 years and emerging as a new hope for Korean middle-distance running.

This remarkable achievement is attributed to the steadfast support of the Yeongcheon City Athletics Federation.

As President of the Yeongcheon City Athletics Federation, Son's contributions have left a deep impact not only in terms of results but also on the lives of the athletes. In 2010, then-Executive Director Jeong Jeongho of the Yeongcheon City Athletics Federation discovered the talents of two sisters, the elder Sim Chasun and the younger Sim Sansun, who persevered and ran with determination despite difficult circumstances during a Yeongcheon City trial event.

The background that allowed the 'Chasuni siblings' to continue chasing their dreams while caring for their ailing mother, elderly father, and younger siblings was the heartfelt support and warm encouragement from President Son.

Such dedication from President Son has not only elevated the performance of track and field athletes but also raised the status of Yeongcheon sports, greatly contributing to the local economy by attracting training camps and competitions from across the country.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Proud Citizen Award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the opening ceremony of the 51st Yeongcheon Culture and Arts Festival on October 18.

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