Director Maggie Kang, who helmed the Netflix animation Kpop Demon Hunters, has been awarded the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency held the “2025 Korea Content Awards Ceremony” on the 10th, recognising 24 individuals and 15 outstanding content works that contributed to the development of South Korea’s content industry this year. Director Kang was awarded the cultural medal for her contributions to the global expansion of K-culture, K-pop, and related consumer industries through directing Kpop Demon Hunters, described as “Netflix’s most popular animation to date.”
The Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit is considered one of South Korea’s most prestigious cultural decorations, conferred by the state on artists and creators whose work has had a lasting impact on national culture and its global profile. Being named an Okgwan recipient places Kang alongside a select group of cultural figures whose achievements are recognised not only for commercial success, but for shaping how Korean content is seen and experienced around the world.
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This year’s awards underscored the breadth of Korea’s creative ecosystem across broadcasting, video, games, and character IP. In the Broadcasting and Video Industry Development Merit category, Director Kim Won-seok of Baram Pictures, who directed the drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, and screenwriter Park Ji-eun, who wrote The Queen of Tears, received the Cultural Commendation. Their recognition highlights the continued influence of Korean drama creators in setting storytelling trends both domestically and internationally.
Acknowledging the industry’s global ambitions, the ceremony also spotlighted key players driving Korean content overseas. In the overseas expansion category, Park Young-seok, CEO of Fan Entertainment, and Yoon Hyun-jun, CEO of Studio Slam, received the President’s Commendation for their roles in growing Korean IP in international markets. In the broadcasting and video industry development category, screenwriter Mo Eun-seol of Culinary Class Wars was honoured, reflecting the importance of fresh narratives and genre experimentation in sustaining Korea’s content boom.
Read more: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Lands Three Golden Globe Nominations
The game sector, a pillar of Korea’s digital culture, was also celebrated. In the game industry development category, Kim Hyeong-tae, CEO of Shift Up, and Park Jeong-mu, Vice President of Nexon Korea, received the President’s Commendation in recognition of their leadership in expanding Korean games on the global stage. Their inclusion alongside filmmakers and screenwriters underlines how games are now seen as a core part of Korea’s cultural exports, not just a tech-driven industry.
Awards were also given to outstanding works in categories such as comics, animation, and characters, showing how stories and icons travel across formats. The comic Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, the animation The King of Kings, and the character Dalimi received the President’s Award, highlighting the growing importance of webtoons, animation, and character IP in shaping contemporary Korean pop culture. Together with Kang’s Okgwan honour for Kpop Demon Hunters, the night’s recognitions mapped out a content landscape where Korean creativity continues to push into new genres, platforms, and audiences worldwide.
