Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 31 mins ago
Shin Hae-chul, BLACKPINK and others to receive cultural honors
South Korea will award cultural honors to 10 people and groups for their contributions to pop culture.
The awards will be presented Thursday at the 17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards in Seoul, the government’s highest honor for pop culture artists.
Late singer Shin Hae-chul will receive the honor posthumously for helping popularize Korean rock through experimental music with bands including N.EX.T.
Comedian Yoo Jae-suk, singer Han Young-ae, theatrical producer Park Myung-sung, voice actress Park Young-nam and musician Shin Kwan-woong will also receive the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit.
BLACKPINK’s four members will receive the Okgwan Order: Rose, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo.
The ceremony will honor 36 individuals and groups in total, with others receiving presidential, prime ministerial or culture minister commendations.
BLACKPINK and the late singer Shin Hae-chul are among 36 recipients of South Korea’s 2026 Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
The government awards recognize contributions to popular culture and the arts.
Shin will posthumously receive the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit for helping popularize Korean rock.
BLACKPINK members Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo will receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit.
The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul.
- Who
- Thirty-six individuals and groups, including BLACKPINK and the late singer Shin Hae-chul.
- What
- They will receive cultural merit orders and official commendations at the 2026 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
- When
- Thursday; the ceremony is announced in articles published October 29, 2026.
- Where
- The National Theater of Korea in central Seoul.
- Why
- To recognize recipients’ contributions to South Korean popular culture and the arts.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Shin Hae-chul died at age 46.
The 17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards will recognize 36 individuals and groups.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul.
- Total honorees
- 36 individuals and groups
- Cultural medals
- 10 recipients
- Shin Hae-chul
- Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit
- BLACKPINK
- Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit for Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo
- Ceremony venue
- National Theater of Korea, central Seoul
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What people are saying
This year’s award recipients have spent many years connecting with the public in their respective fields, including onstage, in broadcasting and in film, and have led the development of our popular culture and arts.
We will continue to provide strong support so that artists can pursue their creative work with pride, while also making sustained efforts to remember and honor their achievements and the paths they have forged.