Pyeongtaek city wins presidential award for hydrogen production and carbon reduction
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Pyeongtaek City in South Korea received the Presidential Award at the 2026 Korea City Awards for its work building hydrogen production facilities and capturing carbon dioxide.
The city operates the country’s first commercially viable carbon capture facility and a hydrogen production base, contributing to carbon reduction. Officials evaluated all 229 cities and counties nationwide based on sustainability and infrastructure.
Pyeongtaek City expanded its clean hydrogen supply infrastructure, including hydrogen pipelines, and increased renewable energy and urban forests as part of its carbon neutrality policies. The carbon capture facility reduced emissions equivalent to planting approximately 620,000 trees. Furthermore, operating the hydrogen production base for one year had the same effect as planting about 5.58 million trees. Gyeongju City won the Prime Minister’s Award for revitalizing the declining Hwangchon Village through resident-led urban regeneration.
The city established a public-private-academic governance system to boost local commerce and promote urban inns, which increased pedestrian traffic by 319% and dwell time by 62%. Resident satisfaction with walking conditions and housing welfare also rose by 38% and 21% respectively. Other cities and counties received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award for policies addressing climate change, urban renewal, population decline, and smart city initiatives.
