Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism holds 2026 Cultural Arts Merit Awards ceremony Monday; Lee Hyun-se, Yoo An-jin, Jeon Mu-song, Park Jeong-ja and late Chung Sang-hwa receive silver-class Order of Cultural Merit

Late poet Yun Dong-ju is to receive the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
Late poet Yun Dong-ju is to receive the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The late poet Yun Dong-ju and poet Kim Nam-jo are to be posthumously awarded the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold the 2026 Cultural Arts Merit Awards ceremony Monday afternoon at the Modu Arts Theater in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, honoring a total of 36 recipients — 17 with the Order of Cultural Merit, six with the Presidential Commendation for Cultural Arts, eight with the Young Artist of Today Award (minister's commendation) and five with the Proud Parent of an Artist Award (minister's commendation).

The Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit is the highest grade within the Order of Cultural Merit, itself the top tier of government honors. This year it will be conferred on the late poet Yun Dong-ju and poet Kim Nam-jo.

Yun is celebrated as the poet most beloved by Koreans, remembered across East Asia and resonant with readers worldwide. He was recognized for his contribution to establishing the identity of Korean literature and advancing its cultural development — writing poems in the Korean language during the Japanese colonial period that expressed the nation's suffering and spirit of resistance through lyricism and deep self-reflection.

Kim wrote more than 1,000 poems and essays across 19 collections over a career spanning more than 70 years. She was honored for her contributions to the development of modern Korean literature and her dedication to promoting the excellence of Korean poetry at home and abroad.

The Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit will go to five recipients: cartoonist Lee Hyun-se, poet Yoo An-jin, actor Jeon Mu-song, actor Park Jeong-ja and the late painter Chung Sang-hwa.

Lee made his debut in 1978 with "Jeo Gangeun Algo Itda" and rose to prominence in 1983 with "Gongpoui Oein Gudan." He joined Sejong University as a professor in its comics and animation department in 1997 and has been recognized for driving innovation and development in Korean comics.

Yoo is a poet and educator representing modern Korean poetry, producing works across poetry, prose and essays grounded in deep lyricism and reflection on human growth.

Jeon has devoted more than 60 years to the theater stage, elevating the art of acting, helping lay the groundwork for the globalization of Korean performing arts through the development of original Korean productions and international exchange, and nurturing the next generation of artists.

Park has appeared in more than 200 productions over 60 years, spending 9,000 days on stage — a living history of Korean theater. She has also served as chairperson of the Korea Theater Artists Welfare Foundation, leading efforts including the enactment of the Artist Welfare Act.

The late painter Chung established the formal language of Korean monochrome painting through his distinctive pictorial methodology and contributed to bringing Korean abstract art to international recognition.

Late poet Kim Nam-jo is to receive the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
Late poet Kim Nam-jo is to receive the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The Jade Crown Order of Cultural Merit will go to six recipients: hanbok designer Kim Hye-sun, film director Park Gyeong-sam, poet Kim Gwang-gyu, novelist Kim Hong-sin, pianist Seo Gye-suk and dancer Kim Suk-ja.

The Camellia Order of Cultural Merit will go to three recipients — the late sijo master Lee Yeong-jun, the late dancer Moon Byeong-nam and master stone craftsman Yun Man-geol — while architect Cheon Eui-yeong will receive the Flower Crown Order of Cultural Merit.

The Presidential Commendation for Cultural Arts will be presented to six recipients: arts director Jeong Gu-ho, novelist Kim Ae-ran, ajaeng player Kim Yeong-gil, theater arts director Kang Yang-won, installation artist Kim Seung-yeong and craft curator Im Mi-seon. Each recipient will receive a presidential commendation along with a prize of 10 million won ($7,550).

Eight artists have been selected for the Young Artist of Today Award: novelist Ye So-yeon, composer Kim Sin, geomungo player Lee Jae-ha, performance planner Sin Ba-ram, choreographer Jeon Hyeok-jin, visual artist Kim Yeong-eun, craftsperson Park Jong-jin and architecture curator Jeong Da-yeong. Each will receive a minister's commendation along with a prize of 5 million won.

Five people have been selected for the Proud Parent of an Artist Award, which honors those who raised outstanding artists: Ki Ju-hyeon, mother of artist Song Won-jun; Yeom Ji-hun, father of dancer Yeom Da-yeon; Lee Myeong-hui, mother of actor Baek Ji-yun; Lee Eui-sun, mother of poet Lee Jeong-rok; and Im Gyeong-sin, mother of visual artist Han Bu-yeol. Each will receive a letter of appreciation in the minister's name along with a gift valued at 4 million won.

Culture Minister Choe Hwi-yeong said, "Today's K-culture stands on the foundation of the dedication and sacrifice of those being honored. The ministry will do its utmost to ensure that current and future artists can work in better conditions than they do today."


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