Mr. Hwang Dong-hyuk became the first Asian director to win an Emmy Award, elevating the global status of Korea’s creative industry. His 2021 production Squid Game achieved unprecedented success as one of the most-watched works in OTT history, sparking a worldwide phenomenon and greatly enhancing Korea’s national brand value.

Through works such as Silenced (Dogani), he exposed social injustices; with The Fortress (Namhansanseong), he reinterpreted historical events; and through Miss Granny and Squid Game, he demonstrated both artistic excellence and popular appeal.

Mr. Hwang’s achievements represent a landmark accomplishment for Korean creators emerging as global storytellers and a significant contribution to shaping the future of Korea’s cultural industry.

Mr. Kim Geun-tae was a leading figure in Korea’s democratization movement during the 1980s. Despite political oppression, he headed the Youth Union for Democracy and took a central role in the fight against dictatorship. By disclosing his experience of torture to the public and the international community, he marked a turning point in the nation’s democratic progress.

As a Minister of Health and Welfare, he introduced the National Basic Livelihood Security System and the Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly, establishing a foundation for social welfare and protection of the underprivileged.

Devoting his life to democracy and social justice, Mr. Kim is remembered as a true democrat whose contributions left an enduring mark on Korean society.

Mr. Park Jong-cheol sacrificed his life in 1987 during the Namyeong-dong torture incident, which became a catalyst for the June Democratic Uprising and a decisive turning point in the establishment of democracy in Korea. His death marked a historic moment that accelerated the end of military dictatorship and underscored the nation’s pursuit of human rights and justice.

The values of democracy and human rights that he embodied continue through the establishment of the Park Jong-cheol Memorial Foundation, the memorial monument at Seoul National University, and the Park Jong-cheol Human Rights Award. His noble spirit remains a lasting symbol of democracy and human rights in Korean society.