Gyeonggi Province's Pyeongtaek City, which has achieved carbon reduction effects through the operation of the nation's first commercial carbon capture facility and a hydrogen production facility, received the presidential prize at this year's Korea Urban Awards.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it held the 2026 Korea Urban Awards ceremony at BEXCO in Busan on the 9th.

The Korea Urban Awards is a statutory evaluation that assesses the sustainability and living infrastructure levels of 229 cities, counties, and districts nationwide.

Pyeongtaek City received high praise for pursuing carbon-neutral policies tailored to its characteristics as an industrial city, such as expanding clean hydrogen supply infrastructure including a hydrogen production facility and hydrogen pipeline networks, as well as expanding renewable energy and urban forests.

In particular, by operating the nation's first commercial carbon capture facility, the city achieved a carbon reduction effect equivalent to planting about 620,000 trees.

In addition, operating the hydrogen production facility for one year produced an effect equivalent to planting about 5.58 million trees.

The Prime Minister's Award went to Gyeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province, which breathed new life into the declining Hwangchon Village through resident-led urban regeneration.

As a result of Gyeongju City pursuing the revitalization of commercial alleyways and urban lodging based on public-private-industry-academia governance involving residents, the floating population increased by 319% and length of stay by 62%.

Pedestrian satisfaction and residential welfare satisfaction also rose by 38% and 21%, respectively.

In addition, local governments that pursued policies such as responding to climate change, urban regeneration, responding to population decline, and smart cities tailored to their regional conditions received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award.

Paju City pursued a power purchase agreement (PPA) to directly supply local companies with renewable energy produced by utilizing idle land and existing facilities for the first time nationwide.

Jongno-gu transformed an idle building into the Jongno Fashion Support Center, linking traditional downtown industries such as jewelry and fashion with urban regeneration.

Dong-gu in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated City was recognized for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into medical infrastructure and converting idle buildings in the old downtown into startup spaces.

(Photo: Yonhap News)