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The group BLACKPINK has become the first K-pop girl group to receive the Order of Cultural Merit.
According to YG Entertainment on the 30th, BLACKPINK was selected as a recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit at the “17th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards” ceremony held on the 29th at the Haerom Theater in the National Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul. This achievement added significance as it came in the year marking their 10th anniversary since debut.
The “Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards,” hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency, is the highest-ranking government award in the field of popular culture and arts. Candidates are selected through public nominations and expert recommendations, with the grade of honor determined based on a comprehensive review of their period of service, activity records, social contribution, and other factors.
The Order of Cultural Merit is a fourth-grade cultural medal, and this marks the first time a K-pop girl group has received it. BLACKPINK was highly praised for its contributions to the spread of Hallyu through activities on the global stage
In response, BLACKPINK stated, “We are happy and honored to receive this meaningful cultural medal.” They added, “We sincerely thank the public who have loved our music for a long time and Blinks (fanbase name) who have always supported us by our side. We will strive to be artists who continue to deliver comfort and inspiration through good music in the future.”
The path BLACKPINK has walked thus far is closely tied to the history of elevating the status of K-pop in the global mainstream music market. In 2022, their second full-length album [BORN PINK] simultaneously topped both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Official Albums Chart, setting a record as the first Asian female artist to achieve this. This February, they achieved the feat of becoming the first music artist in the world to surpass 100 million YouTube subscribers.
In particular, with their third mini-album [DEADLINE] released this year, BLACKPINK set a new record for the highest initial sales among K-pop girl groups (1,774,577 copies according to the Hanteo Chart). They also successfully completed the “DEADLINE” world tour, which spanned 33 shows across 16 cities. Additionally, by actively pursuing solo activities that highlight each member’s individuality, they are solidifying their position as an irreplaceable top-tier global artist.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
