Late Shin Hae-chul, Yoo Jae-suk and BLACKPINK to Receive Top Cultural Honors on Oct. 29

Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit to Be Awarded Posthumously to Shin Hae-chul

17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards to Be Held Oct. 29, Honoring 36 People and Teams, Including 10 Order of Cultural Merit Recipients
Han Young-ae to Receive Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit on 50th Anniversary of Debut; Seven, Including Jang Hang-jun and Yoo Hae-jin, to Receive Presidential Commendations

Shin Hae-chul Receives Recognition for Musical Achievements 12 Years After His Death

The late singer Shin Hae-chul, who died in 2014, will receive one of the highest honors in popular culture alongside Yoo Jae-suk, Han Young-ae and BLACKPINK.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency said the awards ceremony for the 2026 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards will take place Oct. 29 at the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul, where cultural honors and commendations will be presented to 36 people and teams, including those named above.

Now in its 17th year, the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards are government honors recognizing the contributions of popular culture artists—including singers, actors, comedians, voice actors, broadcast writers and instrumentalists—to the industry’s development, while raising their social standing and encouraging creative work. This year’s recipients include 10 people receiving the Order of Cultural Merit, seven people and teams receiving Presidential Commendations, eight receiving Prime Minister’s Commendations and 11 receiving Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendations.

The most closely watched honor, the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit, will be awarded posthumously to the late singer Shin Hae-chul. He won the grand prize at the 1988 MBC College Song Festival as a member of the band Muhankwedo, then formed N.EX.T and explored an experimental musical style, helping bring Korean rock music to a wider audience.

Yoo Jae-suk’s Three Decades in Variety Shows, BLACKPINK’s Global K-pop Impact Recognized

The Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit will go to comedian Yoo Jae-suk, who has spent more than 30 years in broadcasting and earned widespread public affection, and singer Han Young-ae, a towering figure in Korean popular music who is marking her 50th debut anniversary. Also receiving the honor are producer Park Myung-sung, who successfully brought musicals including Mamma Mia! and Chicago to Korean stages; voice actor Park Young-nam, familiar for voicing characters in the animated series Baby Dinosaur Dooly and Crayon Shin-chan; and instrumentalist Shin Kwan-woong, a living witness to the history of Korean jazz.

Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo, members of girl group BLACKPINK, which has led the global K-pop phenomenon, will receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, formally recognizing their global cultural influence.

Jang Hang-jun, Yoo Hae-jin Among 36 Artists Honored With Presidential Commendations

The recipients of Presidential Commendations include music director Kang Seung-won, the band Boohwal and the group Super Junior, as well as film director Jang Hang-jun and actors Yoo Hae-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong and So Ji-sub—seven people and teams in all.

The Prime Minister’s Commendations will go to eight people and teams: broadcaster Bae Mi-hyang, film director Yoon Ga-eun, pansori singer Lee Ja-ram, composer Lee Jae, actors Yoo Seung-mok, Kim Go-eun and Oh Jung-se, and sibling singing duo AKMU.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendations will go to 11 people and teams, including 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 idol groups NMIXX and ENHYPEN.

La Poem and Han Young-ae to Perform at Ceremony Celebrating Popular Culture Artists

Crossover group La Poem and Han Young-ae, a recipient of the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit, are set to give special congratulatory performances at the awards ceremony on Oct. 29.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young said, "This year’s recipients are the people who have spent many years alongside the public in their respective fields—including onstage, in broadcasting and in film—and led the development of our popular culture and arts. We will continue to provide wholehearted support so that popular culture artists can pursue creative work with pride, and will keep working to remember and honor the legacy and contributions they have left behind."