BLACKPINK and Shin Hae-chul to Receive the Order of Cultural Merit

BLACKPINK and the late Shin Hae-chul are among the honorees at the 2026 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards. South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency announced the honors for the 17th edition, set to take place on October 29, 2026, at the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul.

Rosé, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo are each set to receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit. Each member is individually named among this year’s ten recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit.

The honor comes in the year of BLACKPINK’s tenth anniversary. The Korea Times notes that it recognizes their international achievements and their contribution to expanding Korean pop music’s global reach.

Shin Hae-chul is set to receive the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit posthumously. The musician, who died in 2014, is being recognized for his role in popularizing Korean rock through his experimental music, notably with N.EX.T.

In total, the ceremony is set to honor 36 individuals and groups. The honors announced for BLACKPINK and Shin Hae-chul are therefore part of a broader slate of awards, with ten recipients set to receive the Order of Cultural Merit.