G-Dragon Becomes First Idol to Receive Jade Crown of Cultural Merit

By Jieun, Baek

Oct 16, 2025

G-Dragon Becomes First Idol to Receive Jade Crown of Cultural Merit



The group Big Bang G-Dragon once again wrote a new history of K-pop.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) and the Korea Creative Content Agency (hereinafter referred to as Conjinwon) will hold an award ceremony for the 「Korea Popular Culture Arts Award」 at the National Theater in Seoul on the 23rd.

Marking its 16th anniversary this year, the Popular Culture and Arts Award is the most prestigious government award designed to honor the social status and creative motivation of popular culture artists engaged in broadcasting, music, film and performance, and contribute to industrial development. The Geumgwan is divided into five grades, including the Okgwan Hwagwan, the storage of the Geumgwan.




This year, six cultural medals, seven presidential commendations (team), eight prime minister commendations (team), and 10 culture ministers (team) were selected.

G-Dragon Becomes First Idol to Receive Jade Crown of Cultural Merit
G-Dragon will receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit along with comedian Jeon Yoo-sung and voice actor Bae Han-sung, who recently died. G-Dragon is the first idol singer to receive the Okgwan Order of Culture. In the meantime, the record of idol singers has been held by BTS (Hwakwan Order of Culture) in 2018.

G-Dragon led the revival of the second generation of Hallyu as a member of Big Bang and a solo artist. In addition to the main job, he was appointed as an ambassador for the '2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit' held on the 31st, and in collaboration with the KAIST Space Research Institute, he succeeded in transmitting the sound source 'Home Sweet Home' into space for the first time as a Korean singer. He also established the Jusispis Foundation last year and is taking the lead in supporting youth drug treatment and artistic talent.




In recognition of this contribution, G-Dragon received the Prime Minister's Commendation in 2016 and the Okgwan Order of Culture. I got the highest honor as an idol.

G-Dragon Becomes First Idol to Receive Jade Crown of Cultural Merit
Meanwhile, the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit will be awarded to Kim Hae-sook and Lee Byung-hun and Chung Dong-hwan will receive the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit.

The presidential commendation goes to actor Kim Mi-kyung, Lee Min-ho and Lee Jung-eun, singer TVXQ Rosé (BLACKPINK) Seventeen, and voice actor Kim Eun-young. The winners of the Prime Minister's Commendation were actor Kim Ji-won, Kim Tae-ri, Park Bo-young, Park Hae-joon, Ju Ji-hoon, singer ATEEZ TWICE, and performer Choi Hee-sun. Actor Ko Yoon-jung, Byun Woo-suk, Ji Chang-wook, and Chu Young-woo, singer Rise Le Seraphim Children Zero Base One, comedian Lee Soo-ji, and choreographer Bebe will receive the commendation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.






Reporter Baek Ji-eun silk781220@sportschosun.com



silk781220@sportschosun.com