NextSharkNextShark.com

‘Squid Game’ lead Lee Jung-jae, director Hwang Dong-hyuk bestowed S. Korea’s highest cultural medal

‘Squid Game’ lead Lee Jung-jae, director Hwang Dong-hyuk bestowed S. Korea’s highest cultural medal
via Netflix Asia; Still Watching Netflix

The Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit was presented to Hwang and Lee by President Yoon in his Seoul office for their contributions to the national film industry

December 28, 2022
SHARE
On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol awarded South Korea’s highest cultural medal to “Squid Game” lead
The Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit is the highest tier of cultural decoration given by South Korea. The medal was presented to Hwang and Lee by President Yoon in his Seoul office for their contributions to the national film industry.
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter

A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.

Prior to the awards, President Yoon sent congratulatory messages to both Hwang and Lee. For Hwang, Yoon remarked on his “fierce efforts and talent” throughout his career, citing his work on the films “Silenced” and “Miss Granny” in addition to his Best Director Emmy for “Squid Game.” For Lee, Yoon said he gave a “remarkable performance” in “Squid Game” as Seong Gi-hun and merged his character and the hearts of viewers.
In September, Lee became the first Asian to win an Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series for “Squid Game.” He also became the first Asian to win the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor, which he achieved shortly after collecting the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama SAG award in late February.
Earlier this year, Lee received critical praise for his directorial debut at Cannes with the political thriller film “Hunt.” The actor is slated to lead a forthcoming “Star Wars” series titled “The Acolyte.” 
As for “Squid Game” Season 2, filming will reportedly start in 2023 and release sometime in 2024. 

MOST READ
    HAPPENING NOW
      Daniel Anderson

      Daniel Anderson is a Seattle-based Entertainment Reporter for NextShark

      SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

      RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK

      Support
      NextShark's
      Journalism

      Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.

      Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.

      We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.

      © 2023 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.