Late Shin Hae-chul to Receive the “Order of Cultural Merit”; Yoo Hae-jin to Receive the “Presidential Commendation”

[Financial News] The late singer Shin Hae-chul will be awarded the Order of Cultural Merit. Actor Yoo Hae-jin has been selected to receive the Presidential Commendation.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) will present Orders of Cultural Merit and commendations to a total of 36 people and groups at the 2026 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards ceremony, to be held on the 29th at the National Theater of Korea in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Now in its 17th edition, the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards are the government’s most prestigious honors, established to enhance the social standing and creative drive of popular culture and arts professionals—including singers, actors, comedians, voice actors, television writers and performers—and recognize their contributions to the development of the popular culture and arts industry.
This year, 10 people were selected for the Order of Cultural Merit, seven people or groups for the Presidential Commendation, eight people or groups for the Prime Minister’s Commendation, and 11 people or groups for the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation.
Singer Shin Hae-chul, who led the popularization of Korean band music, will receive the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit. Recipients of the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit include comedian Yoo Jae-suk, who has worked in broadcasting for more than 30 years; singer Han Young-ae, marking the 50th anniversary of her debut; performance producer Park Myung-sung, who brought Mamma Mia! and Chicago to Korean stages; voice actor Young-nam Park, whose credits include Dooly the Little Dinosaur and Crayon Shin-chan; and musician Shin Kwan-woong, a living witness to the history of Korean jazz. BLACKPINK members Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo will receive the Ok-gwan Order of Cultural Merit.
The recipients of the Presidential Commendation selected are music director Kang Seung-won, band Boohwal, group Super Junior, film director Jang Hang-jun, and actors Yoo Hae-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong and So Ji-sub.
The Prime Minister’s Commendation will go to 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 singer AKMU.
[email protected] An Ga-eul Reporter