A total 28 Korean singers, actors, directors, musicians and writers were honored by the South Korean government through the 2022 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards held on Nov. 24.
Hosted by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and supervised by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), it is the most prestigious government award in the field of culture and the arts, and honors people who have contributed to the development of popular culture and spread of Hallyu, or Korean Wave. The awards have been given since 2010.
For 2022, five were given the Order of Cultural Merit, six for Presidential Commendation, eight for Prime Minister’s Commendation and nine for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation.
Receiving the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit medal, the highest award this year, were film director Park Chan-wook, who won best director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and the late actress Kang Soo-yeon, who died in May this year after suffering cardiac arrest. She was the first Korean actor to win at an international film festival through the 44th Venice International Film Festival in 1987.
The Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second highest award of the ceremony, was given to actor Song Kang-ho of the Oscar best picture “Parasite” and winner of best actor at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for “Broker”; writer Park Jin-sook and writer Heo Young-man.
The six recipients of the Presidential Commendation were actor Kim Yoon-seok, voice actor Hong Seung-ok, musician Byeon Sung-Yong, singer Kim Hyun-chul, writer Park Hae-young and the late music director Bang Jun-seok.
The Prime Minister Commendation was given to actor Lee Sung-min, singer Jang Pil-soon, comedian Park Myung-soo, singer Jaurim, director Yeon Sang-ho, producer Kim Jiyeon, singer Zico and writer Kim Bo-tong.
The nine recipients of the Receiving the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation award were Aespa, Tomorrow X Together, singer Paul Kim, voice actor Kim Young-sun, actress Kim Sun-young, producer Han Seung-won, actress Jeon Mi-do, comedian Hong Hyun-hee, and choreographer Aiki.