CHANGWON — Byeori, the public relations mascot of South Gyeongsang Province, has won the top award in the government and local government category at a national festival for characters created by local governments and public institutions.
The province said on the 19th that Byeori received the top award in the category at the awards ceremony for the 2026 Korea Local Government and Public Character Festival, held on the 17th of this month.
Winners were decided based on a combination of expert judging and a nationwide online public vote conducted from July 20 to Aug. 21. The province said the result reflected recognition of Byeori's approachable image and promotional appeal among public characters entered from across the country.
Byeori has appeared at expos and festivals nationwide since being unveiled in May 2024. The province has expanded the character's use both online and offline, opening its copyright to small business owners in the province and operating pop-up stores.
Byeori was designed after the rabbit in "Byeoljubujeon," a classic Korean folk tale set on Bito Island in Sacheon. The name means "child of the stars" and conveys the province's intent to bring its residents together to lead the aerospace era.
"It is all the more meaningful because the result reflects both expert judging and a public vote," said Jang Soo-hwan, the province's public relations officer. "We will continue to promote the appeal of South Gyeongsang through Byeori and carry out promotional activities that residents and the wider public can enjoy together."