Rising girl groups NewJeans and Ive receive Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Commendations at the 14th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards

Starship Entertainment/Ador

K-pop girl groups NewJeans and Ive were recognized with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation at the 14th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, which took place at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in central Seoul on Saturday.

Both NewJeans and Ive expressed their gratitude for the honor in statements released by their respective agencies. NewJeans emphasized their commitment to contribute further to the advancement of pop culture. The group, however, could not attend the ceremony in person due to overseas promotions.

Ive, in their statement, thanked their fans and pledged to continue improving the global reputation of Korean culture.

This marks the first time that these two rookie groups have received recognition from the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, an annual ceremony that acknowledges individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the development of the local pop culture and art scene.

Ive, a six-member group that made their debut in December 2021, achieved chart-topping success with singles like "Eleven," "Love Dive," and "After Like." They were awarded the titles of "Rookie of the Year" and "Song of the Year" last year. Their latest EP, "I've Mine," achieved record-breaking sales, with 1.6 million copies sold in a week, marking the third-highest record by a K-pop girl group in history.

NewJeans, who debuted in July 2022, quickly gained recognition with hits including "Hype Boy," "OMG," and "Super Shy." Their global presence was notable, with debuts on the UK Official Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 within a year of their launch. Their latest EP, "Get Up," debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, making them the first female Korean group to achieve this feat.

Apart from NewJeans and Ive, the culture minister commendations at this year's awards were also presented to boy band The Boyz and music producer 250. In a higher category, boy band Stray Kids received the prime minister's commendation.

The 14th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards featured a historic win by 81-year-old singer Lee Mi-ja, who became the first K-pop artist to receive the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor, recognizing her influential role as a pop artist in the 1960s.

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