Incheon Seo-gu Library and Jeonbuk Gochang High School receive Presidential Commendations for Library Excellence

[Financial News] Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education Seo-gu Library and Jeonbuk Gochang High School received Presidential Commendations for their contributions to library operations and the spread of reading culture. Their creative programs to help citizens become authors and educational activities using school libraries received high marks.
On the 28th, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 58 outstanding libraries were honored as part of the '2026 Contributions to Library Operations' awards at the opening ceremony of the 63rd National Library Conference and Exhibition, held that day at the Kim Daejung Convention Center. The recipients received certificates of commendation, prize money and plaques identifying them as outstanding libraries.
Seo-gu Library, which received the Presidential Commendation in the public library category, helped spread reading culture connecting homes, schools and neighborhoods through its 'Read, Walk, Write' campaign. Read, Walk, Write is an Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education policy that links reading, walking and writing. Activities include reading a book, visiting places related to it or walking while reflecting on it, and then expressing one’s experiences and thoughts in writing.
Over three years, Seo-gu Library cultivated 4,193 citizen authors through creative programs such as 'Library Citizen Author School' and 'Picture Book Authors Are Born.' In partnership with local governments, it opened and operates Gajaeul Kkum Children's Library, and built a system for the community to share knowledge and culture by partnering with 598 private-sector, government and academic institutions.
Gochang High School, which received the Presidential Commendation in the school library category, opened a dedicated school library and a book café called 'Seongsan Maru.' It transformed its collection-centered library into a multifunctional learning space where educational activities also take place. The school was also recognized for building a community-linked integrated reading model that helped narrow the educational gap between urban and rural areas and improve students' capabilities.
The Prime Minister's Commendation went to six institutions: Jeonju Municipal Library Kkotsim, Daegu Metropolitan Northern Library, Uiwang City Central Library and Nonhyeon Library in the public library category; Seoul Sinhyeon Elementary School in the school library category; and Army General Administration School in the military library category.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism invited nominations from 22,203 public, small, school, specialized, military and correctional facility libraries, based on figures as of December last year, and conducted expert and merit reviews. In addition to two Presidential Commendations and six Prime Minister's Commendations, it selected 33 libraries for the ministry's commendation and 17 for the Ministry of Education's commendation.
Jeong Hyang-mi, head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Culture and Arts Policy Office, said she would share and promote outstanding practices from the award-winning institutions, adding, "We will support the balanced development of libraries so that everyone can enjoy library services, regardless of region or generation."
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter