The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST), in collaboration with the Korea Creative Content Agency (Acting Director YOO Hyun Seok, KOCCA), hosted the 2024 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theatre of Korea in Seoul on Thursday, October 31.

The Awards, now in their 15^th year, were launched in 2010 to raise the social stature and promote creative aspirations of popular cultural artists in various fields, including singers, actors, comedians, voice actors, screenwriters and instrumentalists. This highest government accolade in the field of popular culture and arts also aims to honor those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the popular culture and arts sector.

The ministry selected award nominees through public nominations and expert recommendations and carried out comprehensive reviews of the period of contributions, achievements at home and abroad, and contributions to their respective industries and society. After a thorough screening, a total of 31 recipients were named, with six individuals receiving the Order of Cultural Merit, seven individuals receiving a Presidential Citation, eight individuals receiving a Prime Minister’s Citation, and ten individuals and teams receiving an MCST Ministerial Citation. This year, the awards recognized not only well-known actors and musicians but also writers, performers and sound artists in an effort to shed light on those whose contributions had not received much attention.

SHIN Gu, KANG Boo Ja, KIM Chang Wan, writer LIM Ki Hong, singer LEE Moon Sae and actor CHOI Soo Jong are the recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit

This year’s highest honor, the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, was bestowed upon SHIN Gu – a master of acting who has portrayed diverse characters imbued with his unique hue across screen, TV and theater – and KANG Boo Ja – a prolific actress who has constantly touched the hearts of the public through her appearance in a number of plays, TV dramas and programs, including play Two Nights and Three Days with Mom and TV drama Men of the Bath House. The Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit was awarded to singer KIM Chang Wan and writer LIM Ki Hong: KIM is an all-rounder who has demonstrated his talents across all popular culture and arts genres as a singer, actor, radio host and more; and LIM is living proof of the legacy of Korean variety shows who has written numerous music and comedy programs, including Humor Number One, Family Entertainment Hall, Stage of Friendship and Immortal Songs. The Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit goes to LEE Moon Sae, a singer of countless hit songs such as “Gwanghwamun Love Song,” “An Old Love” and “A Little Girl.” The Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit is presented to CHOI Soo Jong for acting in a wide range of period dramas, including Taejo Wang Geon; Man of the Sun, Lee Je-ma; Dae Jo-yeong; and Goryeo-Khitan War.

Seven Presidential Citation winners, eight Prime Minister’s Citation winners and ten MCST Ministerial Citation winners selected

In addition to actors and singers, instrumentalists, voice actors and recording artists named for their accomplishments

Presidential Citations are presented to Korea’s most renowned blues guitarist KIM Mok Kyung, actress YEOM Hye Ran, actor JO Jung Suk, musical actor HONG Kwang Ho, film director KIM Han Min, who directed Noryang: Deadly Sea and Hansan: Rising Drangon, voice actor of the Salute to the National Flag KIM Do Hyun, and sound artist LEE Tae Kyung, who has recorded over 300 albums with Korean and global artists, including CHO Yong Pil. The eight awardees of Prime Minister’s Citations are actress CHUN Woo Hee, actor LEE Je Hoon, musical actor CHOI Jae Rim, singer CHANG Ki Ha, voice actor of The Golden Bell Challenge and Live Info Show KIM Young Jin, film director of Exhuma JANG Jae Hyun, music director of musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Gwanghwamun Sonata KIM Sung Soo, and composer Kenzie, who worked with popular singers and bands, such as TVXQ, SNSD and SHINee. Finally, the ten recipients of MCST Ministerial Citations include actress AHN Eun Jin, actor CHA Eun Woo, actress GO Min Si, band Jannabi, band Day6, band Silica Gel, comedian YOON Sung Ho, Model JUNG Ho Yeon, and Lovey Runner’s director YOON Jong Ho.

More information about the awards is available on the Facebook page of the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards.