17th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards: Late Shin Hae-chul to receive Silver Crown, Yoo Jae-suk Precious Crown, and all BLACKPINK members Jade Crown Orders of Cultural Merit

[Financial News] The late Shin Hae-chul, who helped popularize Korean rock, comedian Yoo Jae-suk, singer Han Young-ae and group BLACKPINK will receive Orders of Cultural Merit. A total of 36 people and teams who contributed to the development of popular culture have been selected for honors. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) will hold the 17th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 29th at Haeoreum Grand Theater in the National Theater of Korea in Jung-gu, Seoul.■Shin Hae-chul to receive Silver Crown; Yoo Jae-suk and Han Young-ae, Precious CrownTen people will receive Orders of Cultural Merit. The Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit will be posthumously conferred on Shin Hae-chul. He is being honored for broadening the reach of Korean rock by presenting experimental music through bands such as N.EX.T after making his debut as the grand-prize winner of the 1988 MBC College Song Festival.
The Precious Crown Order of Cultural Merit will go to performance producer Park Myeong-seong, voice actor Young-nam Park, jazz musician Shin Gwan-woong, Yoo Jae-suk and Han Young-ae. Park produced works including Mamma Mia! and Chicago, while Yoo has been active for more than 30 years through shows including Infinite Challenge. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Han's debut.
Young-nam Park voiced Dooly in Dooly the Little Dinosaur and Shin-chan in Crayon Shin-chan, while Shin Gwan-woong has been a fixture on the jazz stage for more than half a century.
All four members of BLACKPINK—Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo—will receive the Jade Crown Order of Cultural Merit on the 10th anniversary of their debut. BLACKPINK topped the U.S. Billboard 200 and the U.K. Official Albums Chart, and this February became the first act in global popular music to surpass 100 million YouTube subscribers. The group was also recognized for helping spread the Korean Wave through the members' solo activities.
The Order of Cultural Merit had six recipients last year, four fewer than this year. The total number of honorees has increased from 31 people and teams last year to 36 this year.■Commendations for 26 people and teams, including Boohwal, Jang Hang-jun and EJAESeven people and teams will receive Presidential Commendations, including music director Kang Seung-won, band Boohwal, group Super Junior, actors Yoo Hae-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong and So Ji-sub, and film director Jang Hang-jun. Kang, who composed “Around Thirty,” has led music programs for 36 years. Jang's The King's Warden has drawn more than 16 million moviegoers, becoming the second-highest-grossing film in Korean history.
Eight people and teams will receive Prime Minister's Commendations: broadcaster Bae Mi-hyang; actors Yoo Seung-mok, Kim Go-eun and Oh Jung-se; director Yoon Ga-eun; singer of traditional Korean music and musical actor Lee Ja-ram; composer EJAE; and sibling duo AKMU. Bae has hosted Bae Mi-hyang's Evening Sketch for more than 25 years, while EJAE topped Billboard's Hot 100 with “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and won a Grammy Award.
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's 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, Jihoon Park and Yoon Kyung-ho, film producer Jang Won-seok, singer Jang Minho, and groups NMIXX and ENHYPEN.
Broadcaster Kang Ji-young and actor Hwang In-youp will host the ceremony, with crossover group La Poem and Han Young-ae giving celebratory performances.
Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said, “We will continue to make efforts to remember and honor the legacy and contributions they have left behind.”
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