Veteran senior actors Shin Gu and Kang Boo-ja received the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second-highest medal, at the 2024 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards held at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on Thursday. The annual awards, now in its 15th edition, are the highest government honor in the field of popular culture and arts. Shin, who debuted onstage in 1962, remains a popular actor decades on with his heartfelt performances.
“After every play run comes to an end, I am excited to start a new one. I do not have a special talent other than acting. I stand here today thanks to the outstanding predecessors who came before me and the colleagues and juniors who shared the same struggles in our time.
I want to share this honor with all of them,” said Shin receiving the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit. Kang, whose acting career spans over six decades, is a leading actress known as the "nation's mother" for the numerous mother roles she has played. "In the distant future, I hope our descendants will tell stories of this actor who once existed, saying that she was a remarkable performer with great talent.
I want to be someone they wish to see again, someone whose laughter, voice and gestures they long to revisit. I will work hard to ensure that I am remembered for a long, long time,” Kang said in receiving her award. The Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit, the third-highest medal, went to singer Kim Chang-wan and writer Lim Ki-hong who worked on well-known TV musi.