2024 Local Government and Public Character Festival: The Award-Winning Characters

The 2024 Korea Local Government and Public Character Festival was held at the Daejeon Convention Center in November 2024. In the contest, where characters from local governments and public institutions competed, characters from public institutions and from a local government museum both won awards. News of the awards came on November 25 and 26, 2024, and the contest included a public vote.

Government Employees Pension Service's Mideumi: Grand Prize and Popularity Award

Mideumi of the Government Employees Pension Service won the grand prize in the public sector category. It also received the popularity award for getting the most votes in the public vote, taking two awards. Mideumi is a superhero character that cheers on the lifelong journey of citizens and the families of public officials. It was created through a brand character contest in 2020. The popularity award Mideumi received was decided by the highest number of votes in the public vote. After the award, the agency said it plans to expand Mideumi's activities. Besides Mideumi, the Government Employees Pension Service also has a character named Donghaengi.

Cheongju's Jikji and Hwaljassi: Top Excellence Award

Jikji and Hwaljassi, the character of the Cheongju Early Printing Museum, won a top excellence award. Cheongju City announced the result as second place nationwide in South Korea. Jikji and Hwaljassi won the grand prize in a Jikji character contest in 2020 and has been used for emoticon stickers and museum promotion. In June 2024, the museum also made emoticon stickers featuring Jikji and Hwaljassi and Jojo and Hoho. Besides Jikji and Hwaljassi, Cheongju City's characters also include Saengi and Myeongi.

Korea Sports Promotion Foundation's Baekhodori: Top Excellence Award, Public Institution Category

Baekhodori, the main character of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, won a top excellence award in the public institution category. It placed second among the 12 institutions in the category. Baekhodori is based on a white tiger.

Busan Port Authority: Encouragement Award

The Busan Port Authority received an encouragement award at the same festival. Its characters are Haebeomi and Ppuppu.

The winning characters came from many backgrounds. Some came from public institutions such as a pension agency, a sports foundation and a port authority, and one came from a local government museum. Mideumi and Jikji and Hwaljassi also have something in common: both were created through contests. From the grand prize to the top excellence and encouragement awards, characters from public institutions and local governments were spread evenly across the winners.