60th Magazine Day... Kwangho Lee, CEO of Moonhak and Jiseongsa, Receives Order of Cultural Merit

60th Magazine Day Ceremony
Fourteen Contributors Honored with Government Awards

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Magazine Association, will hold the '60th Magazine Day' ceremony at the Conrad Seoul Hotel on the 31st and present government awards to individuals who have contributed to the development of magazine culture.

At the '60th Magazine Day' ceremony held on the 31st at Conrad Seoul Hotel, Kwangho Lee, CEO of Munhakgwa Jiseongsa, received the Cultural Merit Award. Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

This year, a total of 14 people will be recognized with government awards and commendations: one recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit, one Presidential Commendation, one Prime Minister's Commendation, and 11 Ministerial Commendations. Kim Youngsoo, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will attend the ceremony to encourage magazine industry professionals.

In particular, this year marks the 60th 'Magazine Day', commemorating six decades of progress in the magazine industry. The event aims to reflect on the achievements of the magazine sector, which has recorded the culture and history of Korean society, and to explore the industry's continued growth amid rapidly changing media environments such as artificial intelligence (AI).

This year, the Order of Cultural Merit will be awarded to Kwangho Lee, CEO of Moonhak and Jiseongsa. As a literary critic, Lee has contributed to the development of literary magazines as an editorial member of the quarterly "Literature and Society." Since 2017, he has served as CEO of Moonhak and Jiseongsa, and since 2023, as President of the Korean Publishers Association, leading efforts to overcome crises in the publishing industry and contributing to the growth and prestige of both literature and the magazine sector.

The Presidential Commendation will be presented to Kim Kitae, CEO of Gaekseok Company. Since 2013, Kim has been the publisher of "Gaekseok," Korea's only comprehensive monthly magazine on performing arts, and has continued its publication for over a decade. He has contributed to recording and popularizing pure arts such as classical music, and in 2024, expanded content by hosting a concert marking the magazine's 40th anniversary, presenting new possibilities for the magazine industry.

The Prime Minister's Commendation will go to Kim Byunghoon, CEO of Happy Family Culture Institute. Kim launched the monthly magazine "Happy Family" in 1999, pioneering the field of specialized family magazines. Through the magazine, he has addressed various family issues and contributed to spreading a healthy family culture. In 2015, the magazine was selected as an excellent publication by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, demonstrating the capabilities of nonprofit magazine publishing and contributing to the industry's diversity.

In addition, 11 individuals who have contributed to the advancement of magazines in various fields such as culture and arts, education, and digital platforms will receive Ministerial Commendations from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

'Magazine Day' was designated in 1965 to commemorate the launch date (November 1, 1908) of "Sonyeon," regarded as the first modern magazine in Korea. Each year, the government uses Magazine Day as an opportunity to reward contributors to the development of magazine culture, boosting morale among magazine professionals and promoting the growth of the related industry.

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