[talk] G-Dragon receiving the Jade Crown Order of Cultural Merit is so cool~~~

[My Daily = Reporter Park Seo-yeon] Singer G-Dragon was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit, Jade Crown, by the South Korean government, officially recognizing his contributions to the development of Korean popular culture and the spread of the Korean Wave.

G-Dragon received the Ok-gwan Order of Cultural Merit along with voice actors Bae Han-sung and the late Jeon Yu-seong at the '16th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards Ceremony' held at the Haeo-reum Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 23rd.

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the "Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards" are the most prestigious government awards in the field of popular culture and arts. They were established to instill pride in artists and elevate the social standing of the industry. Since April, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with KOCCA, has been accepting applications for awardees in the fields of broadcasting, music, film, and performance. A judging committee comprised of relevant experts comprehensively evaluates the recipients based on factors such as the length of their service, the extent of their service, and their social contribution.

The Order of Cultural Merit (Ok-Gwan), awarded to G-Dragon, is awarded to individuals with outstanding national influence and social contributions in various fields, including performing arts, broadcasting, and the arts. As the youngest recipient, G-Dragon has established the status of Korean pop culture by innovating culture.

G-Dragon shared his thoughts on receiving the award, saying, "When I was six years old, I was taken by my mom to an audition. Since that day, I've continued to dream the same dream. I achieved my dream of becoming a singer in my teens, received an award in my 20s, and even received the Ok-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in my 30s. I'm really looking forward to my 40s."

He continued, "I admired being a singer so much when I was young, and I still do. I'm so proud to be a singer, and I love what I do." He expressed his emotions by saying, "The seniors who inspired me to dream were like stars shining every night. I grew up listening to the songs of the stars, and now I've become one of those stars. Next year, Big Bang will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and I want to share this honor with the members."

G-Dragon also said, "I know exactly what I'm going to show on each stage, and I think the most important thing is that the audience can clearly see what I want to show. I think the power of music is that it can be felt even without language barriers," and added, "I want to be remembered as an artist who established a style as a specific person regardless of era or generation."

Finally, he said, "I often say 'Good night, sweet dreams' before bed. Those words have the power to move hearts. Good dreams will eventually become reality and give rise to new dreams. Even if they don't become reality, the heart that dreams brightens life. I hope you all have sweet dreams today," leaving a deep impression.

Meanwhile, G-Dragon has been appointed as the promotional ambassador for the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit and is leading the way in promoting Korea. He is also proving his 'borderless influence' by going on a world tour 'G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch]' across the world, from Asia to the Americas and Europe.

Starting in Korea, he has successfully completed every performance in major Asian cities such as Tokyo, Bulacan, Osaka, Macau, Sydney, Melbourne, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Hong Kong, as well as on global stages such as Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Paris, and even held an encore concert, continuing to lead the global status of K-POP along with the dignity of a 'world-class artist'.