The Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards () is an annual South Korean government-run awards ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Korea Creative Content Agency. The ceremony, which was first held in 2010, "honor[s] those who have made a contribution to contemporary pop culture and the arts, including actors, singers, comedians and models."
Categories There are four categories of awards:
Order of Cultural Merit () Presidential Commendation () Prime Minister's Commendation () Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation ()
The Order of Cultural Merit is considered to be a higher honor than the commendations.
Award recipients † - posthumously awarded
2010 – 2019
Year Order of Cultural Merit Presidential Commendation Prime Minister's Commendation Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation 2010 Shin Goo (actor) Go Eun-jung (voice actress) (comedian) (singer) † (singer) Joo Hyun-mi (singer) Lee Ho-jun (musician) Jung Hye-sun (actress) Bae Han-seong (voice actor) Min Yeong-mun (animation producer) † (comedian) Kim Hae-sook (actress) Kim Chun-kwang (musician) Lee Sun-hee (singer) Jung Joon-ho (actor) Lee Jeong-sik (musician) Won Soo-yeon (cartoonist) Yoon Tae-ho (cartoonist) Super Junior (singers) Song Do-yeong (voice actress) Big Bang (singers) (comedian) Maya (singer) Kim Byung-jo (comedian) Kim Mi-sook (actress) Kim Kwang-seok (musician) 2011 (singer) Shin Young-kyun (actor) Lee Soo-man (music producer)
Shin Jung-hyeon (musician) Oh Seung-ryong (voice actor) Yoo Ho (playwright/screenwriter) Yang Hyun-suk (music producer) Lee Byung-hun (actor) Do Shin-woo (model) Hong Sang-soo (film director) Kim Gun-mo (singer) (comedian) J.Y. Park (music producer) Girls' Generation (singers) Kim Ki-deok (radio DJ) Shim Sung-rak (musician) (singer) Lee Jin-seok (TV producer) Sin Cheol (film producer) Kim Soo-hee (voice actress) Yoo Dong-geun (actor) ZE:A (singers) Jeon In-hwa (actress) Seo Hye-jeong (voice actress) CNBLUE (singers) Beast (singers) Kim Ki-pyo (musician) Jang Keun-suk (actor) Kim Byung-man (comedian) After School (singers) (comedian) Le Tae-kyung (record engineer) Song Il-gook (actor)2012 Lee Jung-jin (actor) Jo Min-su (actress) Psy (singer) Song Seung-hwan (actor/producer)
Na Moon-hee (actress) Song Chang-sik (singer) Kim Ki-duk (filmmaker) (singer) Yun Il-bong (actor) Gim Su-hyeon (TV writer) (singer) Yu Gang-jin (voice actor) An Chi-haeng (musician/composer) (comedian) Han Suk-kyu (actor) Sim Jae-myeong (film producer) Kim Chang-wan (singer) Na Yoon-sun (singer) 2NE1 (singers) Gim Dong-su (model/professor) Ha Jung-woo (actor) Gim Hyeong-seok (songwriter) Cho Seung-woo (actor) (singer) Yoo Jae-suk (comedian) Shinee (singers) Kim Soo-hyun (actor) Ryu Seung-ryong (actor) Kiha & The Faces (singers) Hong sisters (TV writers) Lee Soo-geun (comedian)2013 Cho Yong-pil (singer) I Hye-gyeong (voice actor) Patti Kim (singer) Ahn Sung-ki (actor) Gim Jeong-su (TV writer) (comedian) Lee Jung-gil (actor) Jeong Seong-jo (musician) (singer) † Jeon Je-deok (musician) Sunwoo Yong-nyeo (actress) Ryoo Seung-wan (film director) Song Byeong-jun (TV producer) (comedian) Bak Il (voice actor) Kim Kap-soo (actor) Bae Su-yeon (musician) Lee Seung-hwan (singer) (singer) (comedian) Seo Su-min (TV producer) Go Eun-gyeong (model) Kim Jun-ho (comedian) Secret (singers) Shin Hyun-joon (actor) Sistar (singers) Eru (singer) Jang Seo-hee (actress)2014 Choi Bool-am (actor) Bak Jeong-ran (TV writer) Song Hae (comedian)
Choi Eun-hee (actress) (singer) Kim Su-il (voice actor) Kim Kwang-seok (singer) † I Jae-yeon (model) I Yu-sin (musician) Hong Seung-seong (music producer) Gim Yeong-hui (TV producer) Yoo Young-jin (music producer) (actress) (singer) Lee Min-ho (actor) (actor) Kim Soo-hyun (actor) Park Ji-eun (screenwriter) Shin Dong-yup (comedian) Jeong Dae-gyeong (theater producer) Na Young-seok (TV producer) Lee Seung-gi (singer) Exo (singers) Jeong Jin-seok (choreographer) Kim Bo-sung (actor) Gim Jae-man (musician) Kim Jun-hyun (comedian) Go Geon-hyeok (music producer)2015 Lee Deok-hwa (actor) I Seong-hui (album manufacturer) (comedian) †
(singer) Norah Noh (fashion designer) I Hui-u (screenwriter) Jun Ji-hyun (actress) Lee Moon-sae (singer/radio DJ) (singer) I Seon-yeong (voice actress) Gim Gwang-su (model) Jeong Tae-seong (film producer) I Ho-yeon (music producer) Park Shin-hye (actress) Oh Dal-su (actor) Lee Jong-suk (actor) Choi Jung-won (musical actress) Kim Jong-kook (singer) IU (singer) JYJ (singers) (comedian) Park Hyun-bin (singer) So Chan-whee (singer) Girl's Day (singers) Jo Yeong-su (songwriter) Bak Yeong-yong (musician) Ongals (comedians) Bae Yun-jeong (choreographer) Bak Yun-hui (make-up artist)2016 Kim Ji-mee (actress) Namkoong Won (actor) (comedian) Tae Jin-ah (singer)
Bae Sang-tae (songwriter) Im Chung (screenwriter) Kim Eun-sook (screenwriter) BoA (singer) Song Joong-ki (actor) Song Hye-kyo (actress) (comedian) I Jeong-seon (musician) Lee Hyun-se (cartoonist) Gim Baek-su (actor) Shinee (singers) Yoo Ah-in (actor) I Geon-u (lyricist) Lee Kwang-soo (actor) Cho Jin-woong (actor) G-Dragon (singer) Hwang Jung-eum (actress) Kim Saeng-min (TV presenter) BTS (singers) Son Seong-deuk (choreographer) Ahn Ji-hwan voice actor) Ock Joo-hyun (musical actress) Im Ju-wan (model) Jo Jung-suk (actor) Hwang Chi-yeul (singer) Bak Hui-ju (cinematographer)2017 Nam Jin (singer) Park Geun-hyung (actor) Youn Yuh-jung (actress)
Gim Ji-seok (movie "programmer") Lee Kyung-kyu (comedian) I Geum-rim (screenwriter) Kim Sang-joong (actor) (singers) Son Hyun-joo (actor) Yang Ji-un (voice actor) Cha Seung-won (actor) Ha Ji-yeong (lyricist) (comedian) Ji Sung (actor) (comedian) Sean (singer) Song Hong-seop (musician/composer) I Eung-bok (TV producer) Jang Yu-jin (voice actress) Jang Yoon-jeong (singer) Exo (singers) Namkoong Min (actor) Ra Mi-ran (actress) Park Bo-gum (actor) Park Bo-young (actress) Lee Sun-jin (model) BtoB (singers) Twice (singers)2018 Kim Min-ki (singer) Lee Soon-jae (actor) (singer) †
Kim Young-ok (actress) Gim Ok-yeong (writer) Gim Jeong-taek (composer)
BTS (singers) Kim Nam-joo (actress) Gim Dong-su (model) Kim Pyeong-ho (sound engineer) † Yoo Jae-suk (comedian) Yoon Sang (musician) I Gyeong-ja (voice actress) Kang San-ae (singer) Gang Hui-seon (voice actress) Kim Sook (comedian) Kim Joo-hyuk (actor) † Son Ye-jin (actress) Lee Sun-kyun (actor) Jun Hyun-moo (TV presenter) (singer) Gang Dae-yeong (make-up artist) Guckkasten (singers) Gim Mi-gyeong (musical director) Kim Eana (lyricist) Kim Tae-ri (actress) Red Velvet (singers) Park Na-rae (comedian) I Seon (voice actress)2019 Kim Hye-ja (actress) Yang Hee-eun (singer)
Gim Hong-tak (guitarist) Gim Un-gyeong (screenwriter) I Tae-hyeon (concert organizer) Yum Jung-ah (actress) Bae Cheol-soo (radio broadcaster) Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Kyeoul (band) Kim Ki-hyeon (voice actor) Seo Byeong-gu (choreographer) Hong Kyung-pyo (cinematographer) Kim Wan-sun (singer) Kim Nam-gil (actor) Kim Seo-hyung (actress) Han Ji-min (actress) Song Eun-i (comedian) I Jeong-gu (voice actor) Ham Chun-ho (guitarist) Jo Hyeon-tak (TV producer) Mamamoo (singers) Monsta X (singers) NCT 127 (singers) Song Ga-in (singer) Ryu Jun-yeol (actor) Lee Hanee (actress) Jung Hae-in (actor) Jin Seon-kyu (actor) (choreographer)
2020 – present
Year Order of Cultural Merit Presidential Commendation Prime Minister's Commendation Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation2020 Go Doo-shim (actress) Byun Hee-bong (actor) (singer)
Song Do-soon (voice) Song Ji-na (scriptwriter) Im Ha-ryong (actor/comedian) Kim Hee-ae (actress) Hyun Bin (actor) Kang Ho-dong (comedian) Kim Ki-pyo (musician) Kim Eun-hee (scriptwriter) Chun Ho-jin (actor) Gong Hyo-jin (actress) Kang Ha-neul (actor) Park Mi-sun (comedian) Seventeen (singers) Shin Choon-soo (producer) Yoon Yoo-sun (actress) Choi Young-joon (choreographer) Kim Yong-shik (voice actor) Ryu Soo-young (actor) Jang Do-yeon (comedian) Lim Young-woong (singer) (musician) Jo Jae-yoon (actor) Jung Sung-hwa (actor) No Brain (musician) Lim Sang-choon (scriptwriter) Kang Soo-jin (voice actress)2021 Youn Yuh-jung (actress)
(singer) Lee Choon-yeon (film director) †
Song Jae-ho (actor) † Park In-hwan (actor) Noh Hee-gyeong (scriptwriter) Kim Yeong-cheol (actor) Jung Woo-sung (actor) (singer) Lee Juck (singer) Kim Tae-ho (television director) Park Jae-beom (scriptwriter) Choi Soo-min (voice actress) Lee Jung-eun (actress) Han Ye-ri (actress) WoongSan (singer) Jung Won-young (jazz musician) Kim Mun-jeong (musical sound director) An Gyeong-jin (voice actor) Kim Seol-jin (artistic director) NCT Dream (singers) Oh My Girl (singers) Lee Je-hoon (actor) Oh Jung-se (actor) Ahn Young-mi (comedian) Choi Deok-hee (voice actor) Seo Young-do (electric bass musician) Go Sang-ji (bandoneon musician) Sora Choi (fashion model)2022 Park Chan-wook (film director) Kang Soo-yeon (actress) †
Huh Young-man (manhwa artist) (screenwriter) Song Kang-ho (actor) (voice actress) Byeon Sung-yong (musician) Kim Yoon-seok (actor) Park Hae-young (screenwriter) (singer) Bang Jun-seok (music director) † Lee Sung-min (actor) (singer) Park Myung-soo (comedian) Jaurim (singers) Yeon Sang-ho (director) Kim Ji-yeon (film producer) Zico (singer) Kim Botong (manhwa artist) Kim Youngsun (voice actor) (musical actress) Han Seung-won (producer) Jeon Mi-do (actress) Hong Hyun Hee (comedian) (choreographer) Paul Kim (singer) Tomorrow X Together (singers) Aespa (singers)2023 Lee Mi-ja (singer)
(voice actor) Jung Hye-sun (actress)
Kim Soo-chul (singer) Lee Hwan-kyung (screenwriter) (lyricist) Hwang Jung-min (actor) (comedian) Shin Dong-yup (comedian) Yoo In-shik (director) Jeong Seo-kyeong (screenwriter) Choi Yi-cheol (singer) Crying Nut (musicians) Namkoong Min (actor) Park Eun-bin (actress) 10cm (singers) Stray Kids (singers) Kim Tae-gyun (comedian) Jang Gwang (actor) Go Hyun-jung (sound director) Kim Bo-ram (artistic director) Yim Si-wan (actor) Joo Hyun-young (actress) Hwang Je-sung (comedian) Ive (singers) The Boyz (singers) MeloMance (singers) Lee Chan-won (singer) Monika (choreographer) 250 (musician) NewJeans (singers)2024 Shin Goo (actor) Kang Boo-ja (actress)
Kim Chang-wan (singer) Lim Ki-hong (screenwriter)
Lee Moon-sae (singer)
Choi Soo-jong (actor) (guitarist) Yeom Hye-ran (actress) Jo Jung-suk (actor) Hong Kwang-ho (musical actor) Kim Han-min (film director) (voice actor) Lee Tae-Kyung (sound artist) Chun Woo-hee (actress) Lee Je-hoon (actor) Choi Jae-rim (musical actor) Chang Kiha (singer) (voice actor) Jang Jae-hyun (film director) Kim Sung Soo (music director) Kenzie (songwriter) Day6 (band) Silica Gel (band) Jannabi (band) Ahn Eun-jin (actress) Cha Eun-woo (actor) Go Min-si (actress) Youn Sung-ho (comedian) Jung Ho-yeon (actress) Yoon Jong-ho (director)2025 Kim Hae-sook (actress)
Lee Byung-hun (actor) Jung Dong-hwan (actor)
G-Dragon (singer) Maggie Kang (film director) (voice actor) (comedian) † Kim Mi-kyung (actress) Lee Min-ho (actor) Lee Jung-eun (actress) TVXQ (singers) Rosé (singer) Seventeen (singers) (voice actress) Kim Tae-ri (actress) Kim Ji-won (actress) Park Bo-young (actress) Park Hae-joon (actor) Ju Ji-hoon (actor) Ateez (singers) Twice (singers) Choi Hee-sun (guitarist) Go Youn-jung (actress) Byeon Woo-seok (actor) Ji Chang-wook (actor) Choo Young-woo (actor) Riize (singers) I-dle (singers) Le Sserafim (singers) Zerobaseone (singers) (comedian) Bebe (choreographers)
Most awarded The following award recipients have received multiple honors: