CHEONGJU — Chungcheongbuk-do held the awards ceremony for the "15th Chungcheongbuk-do Public Design Contest" at 2:00 PM on October 23 at the "Chungbuk Provincial Government Picture Book Garden 1937."

The event was attended by approximately 50 people, including Choi Seung-hwan, Director-General of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, provincial and municipal officials, and the winners. The ceremony featured award presentations, project presentations, and a special exhibition.

Under the theme "Designing the Future of Chungbuk! RE-DESIGN CHUNGBUK," this year’s competition drew widespread participation from university students, the general public, and high school students. Out of 134 submitted entries, 43 final winners were selected for their creativity, practicality, and reflection of Chungbuk’s identity and future vision.

The contest aimed to discover creative design ideas that embody the identity and future vision of the province. Notable entries included:

Sustainable urban spaces incorporating eco-friendly and landscape elements
Public architecture integrated with smart technologies
Themed tourist maps and pictograms designed to revitalize regional tourism, offering practical solutions applicable in everyday life and local sites.

Major Award Winners

Grand Prize (Daesang): Yeom Tae-in (Department of Architecture, Inha University) for "A Living Gateway (Cheongju Airport Station Becomes Chungcheongbuk-do's Living Room)." Yeom reimagined Cheongju Airport Station not just as a transit hub, but as a living room where anyone can stay and interact, earning high praise for capturing Chungbuk’s geographical traits and urban connectivity.
Gold Prize: Park Mi-sung, Song Chae-min, Song Gyu-heon, and Kim Sa-rang (Department of Architectural Engineering, Woosong University) for "F.O.G BOX (Flow of Garden)." Based on the historical, natural, and cultural values of Jecheon Uirimji Reservoir, the team proposed a new space connecting segmented surroundings using transparent polycarbonate materials, harmonizing nature and people.
High School Division Top Prize (Choowoosang): Lee Eun-sol and Kim Tae-rin (Chungju Haelim Design High School) for "RESTOP." Reflecting the historicity and symbolism of Chungju Jungangtap Park, "RESTOP" proposed a universal design bench that provides convenient rest and accessibility for wheelchair and stroller users alike.
Winners were awarded provincial governor certificates along with total prize money of 13.5 million KRW, including 3 million KRW for the Grand Prize, 2 million KRW for the Gold Prize, and 1 million KRW each for the Silver Prizes.

Reflections and Future Outlook

Grand Prize winner Yeom Tae-in shared his thoughts: "As a Chungbuk resident and an architecture major, it was deeply meaningful and rewarding to propose designs for my local community using the knowledge and skills I’ve learned. I will continue to build my professional expertise and contribute to the development of Chungbuk through meaningful designs."

Choi Seung-hwan, Director-General of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, stated, "The entries stood out for their fresh design ideas that reinterpret regional history, culture, and natural environments while elevating the value of everyday spaces. We will actively share these winning works so they can be widely applied to public design policies and projects, ultimately improving the quality of life for our residents through public design."

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