According to the ministry, Minister Song Mi-ryong presented special awards and commendations to employees who delivered outstanding results that the public can feel during a ceremony held at the Government Sejong City Complex on June 5.
This award follows President Lee Jae-myung's directive at a Cabinet meeting last year to ensure that civil servants who achieve exceptional results receive significant rewards. The ministry established a plan for special performance awards in February, incorporating both internal recommendations and public nominations through its website for achievements that resonate with citizens.
The first round of special performance awards this year considered a total of 17 nominations for exceptional achievements from the first quarter of the year since the new government took office. A rigorous evaluation process involved both internal and external experts, as well as a public evaluation panel, with a strong emphasis on results from an 'online perception evaluation' where citizens participated directly. Ultimately, 11 individuals were selected, including one at the director level, five at the section chief level, and five at the assistant level.
The reform of the wholesale market distribution structure was highlighted as the most significant achievement. The ministry awarded 6 million won to Kim Jun-hyun, a senior official, for his contributions to enhancing the public functions of the wholesale market, such as stabilizing price volatility and supporting producers. Additionally, 4 million won was awarded to Song Tae-hung, an assistant official, for establishing a competitive framework among wholesale corporations to protect the interests of producers and consumers.
Another notable achievement was the early consumption of some new grains through a grain loan system, which was recognized for alleviating supply burdens during the harvest season and contributing to stable supply management. Jeong Jeong-hee, a senior official, and Park Jeong-gon, an assistant official, received 5.5 million won and 4.5 million won, respectively, for their roles in interpreting relevant laws to create a new rice supply stabilization strategy.
Policy promotion was also cited as a key achievement. Jeon Han-young, recognized for maintaining the highest number of subscribers on the central government's YouTube channel through innovative promotional planning, received 5 million won. The ministry praised his passionate efforts in communication, stating that he opened new horizons for policy engagement.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to regularly award special performances on a quarterly basis to its headquarters and affiliated institutions, while also providing ad-hoc awards for exceptional achievements to foster a culture of innovative performance across the public sector.
Minister Song Mi-ryong stated, "Civil servants who create exceptional results must receive corresponding rewards," adding, "We will continue to generate innovative policy outcomes that citizens can feel through fair evaluations and significant rewards."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.