Big news for BLINKs: BLACKPINK are getting one of Korea’s top government honors! All four members, Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo, will receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit at the 2026 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency.

These awards are the highest government honor in Korean pop culture, and this is their 17th year. The ministry gathered nominations from the public and experts starting in April, then weighed each candidate’s years of work, activity in Korea and abroad, and contributions to the industry and to society.

More K-pop names on the list

Thirty-six people and teams are being honored in total, and BLACKPINK aren’t the only K-pop act:

  • Super Junior: Presidential Commendation
  • AKMU: Prime Minister’s Commendation, alongside EJAE, the singer and composer behind the ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ soundtrack
  • NMIXX and ENHYPEN: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation

The late rock singer Shin Hae-chul will be honored with the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, and TV host Yoo Jae-suk and singer Han Young-ae are among this year’s Bogwan Order recipients.

What the minister said

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young shared a few words about this year’s honorees (kpop/fwd translation):

“This year’s recipients are people who have spent a long time with the public, each in their own place on stage, in broadcasting and in film, leading the development of our popular culture and arts.”

“We will spare no support so that popular culture artists can continue their creative work with pride, and we will keep working to remember and honor the footprints and contributions they have left behind.”

Original Korean

“올해 수상자들은 무대와 방송, 영화 등 각자의 자리에서 오랜 시간 국민과 함께하며 우리 대중문화예술의 발전을 이끌어 온 분들”

“앞으로도 대중문화예술인들이 자긍심을 갖고 창작 활동을 이어갈 수 있도록 지원을 아끼지 않고, 이들이 남긴 발자취와 공로를 기억하고 기리는 일에도 꾸준히 힘쓸 것”

When it happens

The ceremony takes place on October 29 (Korea time) at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, with performances from crossover group La:POEM and Han Young-ae.

While you wait, revisit BLACKPINK’s ‘Pink Venom’ MV below.