In celebration of 140 years of diplomatic relations, King Charles III welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee to the U.K. on November 22. During this momentous event, the King of the United Kingdom also awarded BLACKPINK honorary MBEs.
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An MBE, or Member of the Order of the British Empire award, is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement or service to the community in a field that has delivered sustained and significant impact, serving as an exemplary model for others. While not questioning the globally renowned talent and achievements of the South Korean girl group in music, fans wondered why BLACKPINK was honored by King Charles III.
The King, joined by The President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea, has welcomed @BLACKPINK to Buckingham Palace, as they are awarded Honorary MBEs. 🎖️
The K-Pop band have been awarded the honours in recognition of their role as Advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. pic.twitter.com/8xeD4zWP3J
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2023
According to a post from The Royal Family, “The K-pop band have been awarded the honours in recognition of their role as Advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow.” In case you missed it, COP26 was the 2021 United Nations climate change conference hosted by the UK, where the issue of climate change transitioned from being a fringe topic to a global priority. As part of this campaign, BLACKPINK spoke as COP26 advocates calling world leaders, BLINKS, and everyone, to “take climate action in your area.”
“It is especially inspiring to see Korea’s younger generation embrace the cause,” the King said in his speech. “I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé, better known collectively as BLACKPINK, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as Ambassadors for the U.K.’s Presidency of COP 26, and later as advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.” King Charles III also mentioned how it was admirable that BLACKPINK is able to prioritize climate action alongside being “global superstars.”
Photos: The Royal Family
Furthermore, Time reported that Hallyu (K-pop culture) truly took center stage in the festivities with references to K-pop boy band BTS and the Netflix series “Squid Game” scattered throughout the King’s welcome speech. “It is probably artistic creativity that has brought about the most dramatic shift in Korea’s place in the British cultural landscape,” the King remarked.
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In addition, he said, “Our cultures share a remarkable ability to captivate imaginations across the world, transforming a so-called soft power into a shared superpower.”
In an Instagram post, Jennie Kim flexed their award and expressed her gratitude by saying, “A huge honor to receive the Honorary MBEs and attend the South Korea-UK State Banquet at the Buckingham Palace.”
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Meanwhile, Lisa Manoban shared, “It has been such a great honor to be part of this special Korean State Banquet at the Buckingham Palace.”
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As of writing, Rosé and Jisoo have yet to post anything about the royal event.
This year, we recall that among BLACKPINK’s achievements was making history as the first Korean band to headline a British music festival when they performed at BST Hyde Park in July.
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