Actor Youn Yuh-jung, Loved by Hollywood, Awarded the Geumgwan Cultural Medal

1st Generation Singer-Songwriter Lee Jang-hee and Film Producer Late Lee Chun-yeon Awarded Eun-gwan Cultural Medal
Actors Late Song Jae-ho and Park In-hwan, Broadcast Writer Noh Hee-kyung Awarded Bo-gwan Cultural Medal

Actor Youn Yuh-jung, who captivated Hollywood with her warm face and clear Korean speech, will receive the Geumgwan Culture Medal.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency will hold the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards ceremony on the 28th at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater. This is the highest government award held annually to boost the pride of popular culture artists such as singers, actors, comedians, voice actors, broadcast writers, and musicians, and to enhance the social status of related industries. Awardees are selected based on their period of service, domestic and international achievements, contributions to the industry, social contributions, and public reputation and recognition. This year, twenty-nine individuals (teams) will be honored, including six recipients of the Culture Medal, seven Presidential Citations, seven Prime Minister Citations, and nine Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Citations (teams).

Youn, who won the Best Supporting Actress award at the U.S. Academy Awards last April, will be awarded the Geumgwan Culture Medal, the highest honor given to contributors to culture and arts. In the film "Minari," she portrayed a character who, behind a prickly tone and humorous face, exuded a caring and warm aura, providing fresh persuasiveness to overseas audiences. She instantly lightened the cold atmosphere created by the quarrel between her daughter and son-in-law, while also intensifying tensions through conflicts arising from cultural differences. She revealed a strange compassion and transcendental energy, signaling a new beginning for the family.

This is a rare expression for a typical middle-aged actress. While fellow actresses accepted and settled into ordinary mother roles, she steadfastly maintained versatile roles like a lone wolf. Her life and acting, distanced from conventions, led to vigorous activities spanning commercial films, dramas, and independent films. She provided deep inclusiveness and a solid foundation for stories that anyone could be drawn into, regardless of culture, ethnicity, or nationality. Her clear footprints have long transformed Korean society’s perspective on actresses.

Lee Jang-hee, a first-generation singer-songwriter who sparked the folk craze in the 1970s, and the late producer Lee Chun-yeon, who led the revival of the Korean film industry, will receive the Eun-gwan Culture Medal. The late actor Song Jae-ho, who moved viewers with his touching acting, actor Park In-hwan, who recently took on new challenges in the drama "Navillera," and broadcast writer Noh Hee-kyung, who gained empathy from all generations through dramas such as "The World They Live In," "It's Okay, That's Love," and "Dear My Friends," will be awarded the Bogwan Culture Medal.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recipients of the Presidential Citation include actors Kim Young-chul and Jung Woo-sung, singers Kim Yeon-ja and Lee Juck, producer Kim Tae-ho of "Hangout with Yoo," drama writers Park Jae-beom of "The Fiery Priest" and "Vincenzo," and voice actor Choi Soo-min of the cartoons "Youngshim" and "Run Hani." Actors Lee Jung-eun and Han Ye-ri, singer WoongSan, musician Jung Won-young, musical director Kim Moon-jung, voice actor Ahn Kyung-jin, and artistic director Kim Seol-jin will receive the Prime Minister Citation. Group NCT Dream, Oh My Girl, actors Lee Je-hoon and Oh Jung-se, comedian Ahn Young-mi, voice actor Choi Deok-hee, musicians Seo Young-do and Go Sang-ji, and model Choi So-ra will each receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Citation.