[OSENWORLD] K-pop icon G-DRAGON was officially recognized by the Korean government for his influence on global pop culture. The artist received the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the country’s second-highest honor in the field of arts and culture, becoming the youngest artist ever to receive the distinction.
The award was presented on October 23 at the National Theater of Korea during the 16th annual Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards ceremony in Seoul, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). The honor celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development and global recognition of Korean popular culture.
Alongside G-DRAGON, veteran voice actor Bae Han-sung and the late actor Jeon Yoo-sung were also honored with the Okgwan Order this year.
The Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit is awarded to individuals whose artistic influence has had a significant global impact, spanning fields such as music, performance, broadcasting, and the arts. With this recognition, G-DRAGON has solidified his status as both a generation-defining artist and a cultural ambassador who helped shape the Korean Wave (Hallyu) into a global phenomenon.
Reflecting on his journey, G-DRAGON shared an emotional acceptance speech:
“When I was six, my mother took me to my first audition, and from that day, I’ve been chasing the same dream. In my teens, I became a singer; in my twenties, I was honored with awards; and now, in my thirties, I’ve received the Okgwan Cultural Medal. I’m excited to see what my forties will bring.”
He continued,
“I’ve always admired singers since I was young, and I still do. I’m proud to be one, and I love what I do. The artists who inspired me were like shining stars — I grew up listening to their songs, and now I’ve become one of those stars myself. As BIGBANG will mark its 20th anniversary next year, I’d like to share this honor with my members.”
Calling music a universal language, G-DRAGON added:
“Every time I perform, I know exactly what I want to show and how I want the audience to feel. Even without words, music connects people — that’s its power. I want to be remembered as an artist who defined his own style, transcending eras and generations.”
He closed with a heartfelt message:
“Before bed, I often tell people, ‘Good night, sweet dreams.’ There’s power in those words. A good dream can become reality or lead to another dream — and even if it doesn’t, the act of dreaming itself makes life shine. I hope everyone keeps dreaming beautiful dreams.”
The honor comes as G-DRAGON continues to expand his global influence. Appointed as an official ambassador for the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, he is also preparing for his 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch], which is already selling out arenas across Asia, North America, and Europe.
The tour includes stops in Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Macau, Sydney, Melbourne, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and major Western cities such as Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Paris — reinforcing his reputation as a truly world-class performer and one of K-pop’s most enduring cultural forces.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of Galaxy Corporation
