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South Korea Honors 36 Entertainment Figures
South Korea will recognize BLACKPINK, television host Yoo Jae-suk, singer Han Young-ae and the late rock musician Shin Hae-chul at the 17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards in Seoul.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency will hold the ceremony at the National Theater of Korea on the evening of the 29th. Honors will go to 36 individuals and groups: 10 recipients of cultural medals, seven recipients of presidential commendations, eight recipients of prime minister’s commendations and 11 recipients of culture minister’s commendations.
The awards are among the South Korean government’s most prestigious honors for popular entertainers. They recognize contributions to the country’s cultural industries by singers, actors, comedians, voice performers, writers and musicians.
Posthumous Honor for Shin Hae-chul
Shin, the influential musician nicknamed the “Demon Lord,” will posthumously receive the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second-highest of South Korea’s five cultural medal grades. He died in 2014.
Shin rose to national attention in 1988 when his band, Infinite Track, won the grand prize at broadcaster MBC’s College Music Festival with “To You.” A philosophy student at Sogang University at the time, he later led the band N.EX.T, combining rock with electronic music and intellectually ambitious lyrics. He is credited with helping bring Korean rock into the mainstream.
Veteran Broadcaster and Musicians Recognized
Yoo, Han, theater producer Park Myung-sung, voice actor Park Young-nam and jazz pianist Shin Kwan-woong will receive the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit.
Yoo debuted in 1991 and became one of South Korea’s most recognizable television personalities through programs including “Infinite Challenge.” Often called the country’s “national host,” a title reflecting his broad popularity, he previously received a presidential commendation in 2018.
Han is marking her 50th anniversary as a performer. She began with the folk group Sunflower in 1976, spent time working in theater and released her first solo album, “Yeoulmok,” in 1986. Known for songs including “Is Anybody There?” and “Tuning,” she has been nicknamed the “Witch of Sound” for her distinctive voice. She is scheduled to perform at the ceremony, including anniversary material written for her by Kim Tae-won of the rock band Boohwal.
Park Myung-sung is a first-generation Korean musical producer whose credits include domestic productions of “Mamma Mia!” and “Chicago.” Park Young-nam voiced characters including Dooly in “Dooly the Little Dinosaur” and Shin-chan in the Korean version of “Crayon Shin-chan.” Shin Kwan-woong, a member of South Korea’s first generation of jazz musicians, has performed for more than half a century.
BLACKPINK’s Global Reach Earns Medal
All four members of BLACKPINK — Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa — will receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit as the group marks its 10th anniversary. The government cited both the group’s achievements and the members’ individual work in expanding K-pop’s international reach.
BLACKPINK has topped both the Billboard album chart in the United States and the Official Albums Chart in Britain. Its YouTube channel surpassed 100 million subscribers in February, underscoring the group’s unusually large global audience.
The Okgwan medal is the fourth-highest grade in the five-level system, one level above the Hwagwan medals awarded to BTS in 2018. BTS was the first idol group and the youngest recipient of a cultural medal at the time. G-Dragon received the Okgwan medal last year, while Rosé advances to the honor one year after receiving a presidential commendation.
Actors, Musicians and Filmmakers Also Honored
Presidential commendations will go to music director Kang Seung-won, rock band Boohwal, K-pop group Super Junior, filmmaker Jang Hang-jun and actors Yoo Hae-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong and So Ji-sub. Kang composed “Around Thirty” and spent years working on music programs. Boohwal, formed in 1985, became a leading Korean rock band with songs including “Heeya” and “Never Ending Story,” while Super Junior helped build K-pop’s overseas profile with hits such as “Sorry, Sorry.”
Prime minister’s commendations will recognize radio host Bae Mi-hyang, filmmaker Yoon Ga-eun, pansori performer and musical actor Lee Ja-ram, singer-songwriter EJAE, actors Yoo Seung-mok, Kim Go-eun and Oh Jung-se, and the sibling duo AKMU. Pansori is a traditional Korean form of musical storytelling performed by a singer and drummer. EJAE was recognized for “Golden,” the theme song from Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” which the summary credits with earning K-pop’s first Grammy trophy.
Culture minister’s commendations will go to comedians Kim Shin-young and Kim Won-hoon, choreographer Leejung, actors Lim Ji-yeon, Choi Dae-hoon, Park Ji-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho, film producer Jang Won-seok, singer Jang Min-ho, and K-pop groups NMIXX and ENHYPEN.
Nominees were identified beginning in April through public submissions and expert recommendations. Judges considered career length, domestic and international achievements, contributions to cultural industries and public service. Crossover vocal group La Poem and Han Young-ae are scheduled to perform during the ceremony.
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