Youn Yuh Jung, Jung Woo Sung, NCT DREAM, Oh My Girl, And More Honored At 2021 Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards

Oct 28, 2021

The winners of the 2021 Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards have been announced!

The Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards are government prizes that recognize the work of artists in various fields who have contributed to the development of popular culture. This year’s winners were broadcast in an online ceremony on October 28 that was held at the National Theater of Korea with former announcer Jang Ye Won and actor On Joo Wan as MCs.

Youn Yuh Jung, who made history when she became the first Korean actress to win at the Academy Awards and recently made TIME’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2021, was awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit (First Class). This is the highest order of merit among the cultural awards and it was the first time that this honor has been awarded to an actor.

Youn Yuh Jung, who is filming abroad, sent in a video message saying, “I’m very sorry and regretful that I couldn’t attend such an honorable ceremony. Over the past few days, I’ve thought about what a ‘order of merit’ means. To me, orders of merit are given to those who fought for the country in times of danger or war, or those who sacrificed themselves for the sake of others. All I did was do my work on my own, so I wondered if I could receive such an award.”

She continued, “But it means that our country has become a good place to live if we can receive orders of merit for the arts and not just for war. I will think of this award as being given for the many years of work that I’ve put in and receive it gratefully. I’ve heard that I’m the first [actor to receive a Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit], so I hope that from now on, many people like me will be able to receive it as well.”

Actor Park In Hwan (“Navillera”) and drama writer Noh Hee Kyung (“That Winter, the Wind Blows,” “It’s Okay, That’s Love“) received the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (Third Class). Actors Kim Young Chul (“Times,” “My Father Is Strange“) and Jung Woo Sung (“Steel Rain,” “The King“) received presidential commendations, along with producing director (PD) Kim Tae Ho (“Infinite Challenge,” “How Do You Play?“) and drama writer Park Jae Bum (“Vincenzo”). Actors Lee Jung Eun and Han Ye Ri received the prime minister’s commendation, while NCT DREAM, Oh My Girl, and actors Lee Je Hoon (“Taxi Driver“) and Oh Jung Se (“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” “Stove League“) received the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s commendation.

Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit (1st Class)

Actor Youn Yuh Jung

Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2nd Class)

Singer Lee Jang Hee, movie producer Lee Choon Yeon (deceased)

Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd Class)

Actor Song Jae Ho (deceased), actor Park In Hwan, drama writer Noh Hee Kyung

Presidential Commendation

Actor Kim Young Chul, actor Jung Woo Sung, singer Kim Yeon Ja, singer Lee Juck, PD Kim Tae Ho, drama screenwriter Park Jae Bum, voice actor Choi Soo Min

Prime Minister’s Commendation

Actor Lee Jung Eun, actor Han Ye Ri, singer Woong San, musician Jung Won Young, music director Kim Moon Jung, voice actor Ahn Kyung Jin, art director Kim Seol Jin

Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s Commendation

NCT DREAM, Oh My Girl, actor Lee Je Hoon, actor Oh Jung Se, comedian Ahn Young Mi, voice actor Choi Deok Hee, musician Seo Young Do, musician Go Sang Si, model Choi So Ra