BLACKPINK has achieved another historic milestone, becoming the "first K-pop girl group to receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit" from the South Korean government, making the recognition even more meaningful as the group celebrates its 10th debut anniversary.
On October 30, YG Entertainment announced that BLACKPINK members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa had received the prestigious honor at the 17th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, held on October 29 at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul.
The Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit is a fourth-class cultural medal awarded by the South Korean government to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of culture and the arts.
According to YG Entertainment, BLACKPINK is the first K-pop girl group to receive this honor.
The group was recognized for its contributions to spreading Korean culture worldwide through both group and solo activities, helping strengthen K-pop's presence in the global music industry.
Following the recognition, BLACKPINK expressed gratitude to their fans and supporters.
*"We are happy and honored to receive such a meaningful cultural medal,"* the group shared.
They continued, *"We sincerely thank everyone who has loved our music for such a long time, and especially BLINKs, who have always supported us by our side."*
The members also promised to continue making music that connects with listeners.
*"We will keep working hard to become artists who bring comfort and inspiration through good music,"* they added.
The recognition comes after a series of major achievements throughout BLACKPINK's career.
In 2022, the group's second full-length album, *BORN PINK*, reached No. 1 on both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Official Albums Chart, making BLACKPINK the first Asian female act to achieve the milestone.
In February 2026, BLACKPINK also became the first music artist in the world to surpass 100 million subscribers on YouTube.
The group continued its success this year with its third mini-album, *DEADLINE*, which recorded **1,774,577 copies sold during its first week**, according to Hanteo Chart. The achievement set a new first-week sales record for a K-pop girl group.
BLACKPINK also completed its *DEADLINE* world tour, performing 33 shows across 16 cities, while Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa continued to build their individual careers through solo projects.
With all four members receiving the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, BLACKPINK's latest achievement marks another important moment in the group's career.
The honor also highlights BLACKPINK's influence on the global music scene as the group celebrates 10 years since its debut in 2016.
