News Culture, a comprehensive cultural media outlet (chairperson Kwon Mo-se), announced the final selection of winners of the "2025 Global K-Culture Cultural Awards" on the occasion of its 19th anniversary. This award was organized to spotlight individuals and organizations that contributed to the creative achievements and international diffusion of Korea's culture, to recognize the global standing of Korean culture and to widely publicize those contributions.
The selection of winners was made through evaluations by a judging committee of 10 experts and professors from fields including culture, economics and society, including a global consulting firm, and a final selection process by the review committee. Through algorithmic automatic recommendations from global platforms, offline recommendations and closed meetings, a total of 16 winners were finally selected.
The review committee was chaired by Kim Jin-pyo, chairman of the Global Innovation Institute (former speaker of the National Assembly), and was operated around Lee Sang-gi, president of the K-Culture Promotion Agency (chairperson of the Overseas Koreans Newspaper). From academia, Song Dae-seop, professor emeritus at Hongik University (former chairman of the Korea Fine Arts Association), Kim Yung-rok, professor at Sogang University (electrical engineering), and Woo Jong-woong, professor at Myongji University (department of service convergence management), participated.
In the culture sector, Tak Young-jun and Jang Cheol-hyuk, co-CEOs of SM Entertainment, Kim Byung-jong, distinguished professor at Seoul National University, and Jeon Young-baek, professor at Hongik University, received honors. In the popular culture sector, actor Shin Hyun-joon (HJ Film) and actor Moon Sori (Yubon Company), composer "It turned out to be a coma" (SM C&C), and girl group NMIXX (JYP Entertainment) were listed.
In the economic sector, which selects promising small and medium enterprises challenging the global market with pride as native Korean companies, An Byung-rip, chairman of World Entech Co., Ltd., was selected. Chairman An was recognized as the sole winner in this sector for his sustained investment to strengthen technological competitiveness and expand global markets based on about 40 patented technologies owned by the company.
Global nongovernmental organizations were also included. Park Dae-sung, chairperson of Tri-Forum, who won the international sector grand prize, was honored for planning and operating a symposium in 2023 that brought together Korea, the United States and Japan to seek insights for coexistence and cooperation by understanding cultural differences centered on economics and security, among other contributions.
In the ESG sector, Kim Kwang-soo, CEO of Binggrae, and Kim Tae Kyun, CEO of KEPCO E&C, were chosen. Binggrae drew attention for systematically pursuing mid- to long-term environmental management strategies such as greenhouse gas reduction and water and wastewater management to strengthen ESG management systems over the past decade. Korea Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd. (KEPCO E&C) received favorable evaluations for efforts to disclose information transparently and for implementing financial and nonfinancial programs to promote shared growth with partner companies.
A recipient for social contribution, who raised Koreans' pride on the international stage through dedication and service, was also selected. The global social contribution awardees were Kim Jang-hwan, chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company, and Ham Young-joo, chairperson of Hana Financial Group. Pastor Kim and Chairperson Ham were recognized for their respective contributions over about 60 years to promoting inter-Korean harmony and cultivating a global culture of peace, and for leading global marketing through world-class stars who have illuminated K-culture such as Son Heung-min and Lim Young-woong.
In addition, Park Yang-woo, chairperson of the International Non-Script Content Association (former minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), Park Jung-chul, chairman of Hanstar Media (former chairman of the Korea Editing Reporters Association), and Chung Moon-hun, mayor of Seoul's Jongno District, were selected for merit awards in recognition of their contributions to policy planning, field implementation and policy realization for the globalization of K-culture.
Meanwhile, News Culture, launched on Nov. 11, 2006, is a comprehensive cultural media outlet focused on performance culture (plays, musicals, etc.) and popular culture (songs, films, broadcasting, etc.). Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, to help spotlight the domestic rooted cultural industry that has faced difficulties, it has strengthened traditional cultural content such as cultural heritage and our "sori" and expanded communication with global readers through multilingual news.
Below is the list of winners of the "2025 Global K-Culture Cultural Awards"
△ culture sector = Kim Byung-jong, distinguished professor at Seoul National University; Jeon Young-baek, professor at Hongik University; Tak Young-jun and Jang Cheol-hyuk, co-CEOs of SM Entertainment; actor Shin Hyun-joon (HJ Film); actor Moon Sori (Yubon Company); composer "It turned out to be a coma" (SM C&C); girl group NMIXX (JYP Entertainment) △ economic sector = An Byung-rip, chairman of World Entech △ international sector = Park Dae-sung, chairperson of Tri-Forum △ ESG sector = Kim Kwang-soo, CEO of Binggrae; Kim Tae Kyun, CEO of Korea Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd. (KEPCO E&C) △ social contribution award = Kim Jang-hwan, chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company; Ham Young-joo, chairperson of Hana Financial Group △ merit awards = Park Yang-woo, chairperson of the International Non-Script Content Association; Park Jung-chul, chairman of Hanstar Media; Chung Moon-hun, mayor of Seoul's Jongno District.
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