To mark its 19th anniversary, comprehensive cultural media outlet News Culture (Chairman Kwon Mo-se) announced the final recipients of the 2025 Global K-Culture Awards. The awards were established to spotlight individuals and organizations that have contributed to the creative achievements and international expansion of Korean culture, reaffirming its global stature and widely promoting their accomplishments.
The selection of awardees was carried out through evaluations by a judging panel composed of 10 experts and professors from various fields including culture, economy, and society, followed by a final deliberation process. After global consulting input, algorithm-based recommendations from global platforms, offline nominations, and closed-door meetings, a total of 16 awardees were ultimately selected.
The deliberation committee was chaired by Kim Jin-pyo, Chairman of Global Innovation Studies (GIS) and former Speaker of the National Assembly, and operated under the leadership of Lee Sang-gi, President of the K-Culture Promotion Institute and Chairman of the Overseas Koreans Newspaper. Academic participants included Song Dae-seop, Emeritus Professor at Hongik University and former Chairman of the Korea Fine Arts Association; Kim Young-rok, Professor of Electronic Engineering at Sogang University; and Woo Jong-woong, Professor of Service Convergence Management at Myongji University.
First, in the Culture category, awardees included 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. Figures from the popular culture sector within the Culture category included actor Shin Hyun-joon (HJ Film), actress Moon So-ri (UBON Company), composer team Algo-boni Honsusangtae (SM C&C), and girl group NMIXX (JYP Entertainment).
In the Economy category, which selects small and medium-sized enterprises challenging global markets with pride in homegrown Korean technology, Ahn Byeong-lip, Chairman of entechworld, was selected. He was recognized as the sole recipient in this category for continuously strengthening technological competitiveness and expanding global markets based on approximately 40 patented technologies held by the company.
A global NGO was also included among the awardees. Park Dae-sung, Chairman of TriForum, who received the International Category Grand Prize, was highly evaluated for his contributions in planning and operating symposiums since 2023 involving Korea, the United States, and Japan, aimed at fostering mutual understanding of cultural differences and exploring insights for cooperative coexistence centered on economy and security.
In the ESG category, Kim Kwang-soo, CEO of Binggrae, and Kim Tae-kyun, CEO of KEPCO E&C, were selected. Binggrae drew attention for systematically advancing mid- to long-term environmental management strategies over the past decade, including greenhouse gas reduction and water and wastewater management. KEPCO E&C received positive evaluations for its efforts toward transparent information disclosure and the implementation of financial and non-financial programs to support shared growth with partner companies.
Social contribution awardees who have enhanced Korean pride through dedication and service on the international stage were also selected. The Global Social Contribution Grand Prize was awarded to Kim Jang-hwan, Chairman of FEBC Korea, and Ham Young-ju, Chairman of Hana Financial Group. They were recognized for their respective contributions, including more than 60 years of efforts toward inter-Korean reconciliation and global peace culture, as well as leading global marketing initiatives through world-class K-culture figures.
In addition, Park Yang-woo, Chairman of INSCA and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Park Jeong-cheol, Chairman of Hanstar Media and former President of the Korea Editors Association; and Jeong Mun-heon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, Seoul, were selected as Merit Award recipients in recognition of their contributions to policy planning, on-site implementation, and policy realization for the globalization of K-culture.
Meanwhile, founded on November 11, 2006, News Culture is a comprehensive cultural media outlet centered on performing arts such as theater and musicals, as well as popular culture including music, film, and broadcasting. In particular, to contribute to shedding light on Korea’s grassroots cultural industries that have faced growing difficulties since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has strengthened traditional cultural content such as cultural heritage and traditional Korean music, while expanding communication with global readers through multilingual news coverage.
◆ List of 2025 Global K-Culture Awards Recipients
△Culture Category: Kim Byung-jong (Distinguished Professor, Seoul National University), Jeon Young-baek (Professor, Hongik University), Tak Young-jun and Jang Cheol-hyuk (Co-CEOs, SM Entertainment), actor Shin Hyun-joon (HJ Film), actress Moon So-ri (UBON Company), composer team Algo-boni Honsusangtae (SM C&C), girl group NMIXX (JYP Entertainment)
△Economy Category: Ahn Byeong-lip, Chairman of entechworld
△International Category: Park Dae-sung, Chairman of TriForum
△ESG Category: Kim Kwang-soo, CEO of Binggrae; Kim Tae-kyun, CEO of KEPCO E&C
△Social Contribution Grand Prize: Kim Jang-hwan, Chairman of FEBC Korea; Ham Young-ju, Chairman of Hana Financial Group
△Merit Award: Park Yang-woo, Chairman of INSCA; Park Jeong-cheol, Chairman of Hanstar Media; Jeong Mun-heon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, Seoul. A total of 16 recipients.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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