BIGBANG’s G-Dragon has officially made history by becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the prestigious “Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit.”, the second highest honor by the South Korean government in the field of cultural arts, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the growth of K-pop and the global expansion of Hallyu (the Korean Wave)
On October 23, 2025 (KST), G-Dragon received the honor during the 16th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit is reserved for individuals who have made significant cultural and societal impacts through music, performance, broadcasting, and other creative arts.
For K-pop fans, the honor feels well-deserved — a powerful acknowledgment of G-Dragon’s enduring influence and his role in shaping modern Korean pop culture.
- “Totally well-deserved, congrats congrats.”
- “The host introduced him as ‘the first artist in history who’s never failed to take No. 1 in any group, unit, or solo album over 20 years.’ That was amazing — huge congrats.”
- “And the way he talked about his dreams and mentioned his 40s in the speech? So classy.”
“GD really deserves it, yeah.” - “That introduction was so cool. Congrats!”
- “He deserves to win it ten times over.”
- “Congratulations! It’s amazing how he’s still thriving even after a break.”
- “Considering the influence G-Dragon has had on the K-pop industry, it’s only right he got it. He’s on another level.”
- “Say what you will, but it’s true he’s had a huge impact on K-pop.”