'Elegy Queen' Imija, First Popular Musician to Receive the Geumgwan Culture Medal

Announcement of Winners of the Ministry of Culture and Korea Creative Content Agency Popular Culture and Arts Awards
Voice Actor Lee Geun-wook and Actress Jung Hye-sun Receive the Silver Crown Cultural Medal

'Elegy Queen' Lee Mija will be the first Korean popular musician to be awarded the Geumgwan Culture Medal.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency announced on the 20th the 31 recipients and teams of this year's Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards. Six recipients will receive Culture Medals, seven recipients and teams will receive the Presidential Citation, eight recipients and teams will receive the Prime Minister's Citation, and ten recipients and teams will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Citation. Candidates were selected through public nominations and expert recommendations, and a comprehensive review was conducted considering the period of service, domestic and international activities, contributions to the industry, and social contributions.

Mr. Lee, an icon of 1960s popular music, will receive the Geumgwan Culture Medal in recognition of his contributions to the development of Korean popular culture and arts. The Culture Medal is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of culture and arts and the enhancement of national culture. The Geumgwan is the highest grade, corresponding to the first-class medal. Mr. Lee has hit numerous songs such as "Nineteen Pure Love," "Dongbaek Agassi," "Island Village Teacher," "A Woman's Life," "The Reason for My Life," "Twilight Blues," "Journey," "Wild Goose Father," and "Assi" with his innate voice and stage manners. He set records for the most songs recorded in Korean popular music history with 2,500 songs, the highest album sales (over 500 albums), and the longest career.

The Eun-gwan Culture Medal will be awarded to voice actor Lee Geun-wook, who has performed various voices in films, animations, and foreign films since 1970, and actress Jung Hye-sun, who debuted in 1961 and has been active with charismatic looks and voice. The Bogwan Culture Medal will be awarded to singer Kim Soo-chul, who expanded the range of music by releasing popular songs such as "A Flower That Could Not Bloom" and "Young You," writer Lee Hwang-gyeong, who wrote many historical dramas such as "The Rustic Period," "Taejo Wang Geon," and "The Tears of the Dragon," and lyricist Yang In-ja, who wrote over 3,000 songs including "Leopard of Kilimanjaro" and "Maze of Love."

The Presidential Citation goes to actor Hwang Jung-min, comedians Choi Yang-rak and Shin Dong-yup, director Yoo In-sik, writer Jung Seo-kyung, musician Choi Yi-chul, and singer Crying Nut. The Prime Minister's Citation will be awarded to actors Namgoong Min and Park Eun-bin, singers 10CM and Stray Kids, comedian Kim Tae-gyun, voice actor Jang Gwang, sound director Go Hyun-jung, and artistic director Kim Bo-ram. Actors Im Si-wan and Joo Hyun-young, comedian Hwang Je-seong, singers IVE, The Boyz, MeloMance, Lee Chan-won, 250 (Lee Ho-hyung), NewJeans, and choreographer Monica will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Citation.

The awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on the 21st at the National Theater's Haerum Theater. It will be broadcast live through the Korea Creative Content Agency and "The K-pop" YouTube channel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.