At a moment when nations are redefining soft power through innovation, South Korea has turned its creative technology into state diplomacy. The Presidential Commendation granted to Galaxy Corporation, the AI-powered Enter-Tech firm behind G-Dragon, underscores a deeper shift that Korea’s startups are no longer just scaling entertainment. They are now shaping a new global narrative where culture, technology, and diplomacy converge.

Galaxy Corporation Receives Presidential Recognition for APEC Contribution

AI entertainment technology startup Galaxy Corporation, home to global artist G-Dragon, has received a Presidential Commendation for its contribution to the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit held in Gyeongju. The recognition was announced on January 20, 2026, by multiple Korean outlets including Yonhap, Newsis, and Asia Economy.

The award acknowledged Galaxy Corporation’s participation as an official sponsor of the summit and the only Enter-Tech company present at the APEC Leaders’ Welcome Banquet, where G-Dragon performed as official APEC ambassador. The company’s involvement was commended as an act of national representation that advanced both Korea’s creative leadership and cultural diplomacy on a global stage.

The Presidential Certificate, signed by President Lee Jae-myung, explicitly cited Galaxy Corporation’s “significant contribution to national development through the successful hosting of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting.”

Cultural Technology Meets State Diplomacy

Galaxy Corporation’s presence at APEC marked the first formal participation of an AI-based entertainment firm in a global diplomatic summit. The company, known for pioneering “Enter-Tech”—a fusion of AI, IP, and entertainment innovation—played a symbolic role in demonstrating how Korea’s creative-tech sector can serve as a diplomatic tool for global engagement.

During the October 31 welcome banquet, G-Dragon’s performance drew widespread attention as heads of state, including China’s President Xi Jinping and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, were seen recording the stage with their phones. This moment, broadcast worldwide, became a defining visual of Korea’s soft power—where technology-driven cultural production intersected with international policy diplomacy.

Galaxy Corporation and G-Dragon also presented world leaders with light sticks engraved with the phrase “Peace with Create,” conveying a message that art and creativity can transcend borders and unify cultures.

The gesture encapsulated Galaxy’s philosophy that entertainment, empowered by technology, can be a vehicle for global cultural communication and not just commercial performance.

Galaxy Corporation’s Role in Redefining Korea’s Creative-Tech Diplomacy

In an official statement, Galaxy Corporation expressed:

“We were honored to contribute to Korea’s global influence by representing K-culture at the APEC Leaders’ Summit. It was more than a participation—it was a meaningful opportunity to showcase the power of Korean content to the world.”

Media reports highlighted that CEO Choi Yong-ho (age 37), who had previously led G-Dragon’s successful cultural projects including his Order of Cultural Merit, was once again recognized as a central figure driving the global expansion of Korea’s Enter-Tech model.

Choi’s leadership has been consistently cited as evidence of how AI-enhanced cultural enterprises can operate beyond traditional entertainment frameworks and align with Korea’s diplomatic and innovation objectives.

Galaxy Corporation’s Recognition and the Rise of Enter-Tech as a Diplomatic Asset

Galaxy Corporation’s commendation holds deeper significance beyond symbolic appreciation. It underscores the growing convergence of technology, culture, and foreign policy—a shift that aligns with Korea’s broader innovation strategy.

As reported in previous analyses of Galaxy’s trajectory, the company became a KRW 1 trillion unicorn in late 2025 following a KRW 100 billion pre-IPO funding round. Its business model integrates AI, machine learning, and IP commercialization across entertainment and media, and it maintains R&D collaboration with KAIST and partnerships with Microsoft and global investors.

Through G-Dragon’s APEC ambassadorship and the company’s technological innovation, Korea effectively leveraged a private-sector Enter-Tech player to advance its national image, creative economy, and global influence simultaneously.

The commendation also reflects an emerging pattern where startups are increasingly recognized as participants in soft power strategy—not only as economic actors but as cultural intermediaries capable of extending Korea’s reach across digital and diplomatic domains.

What Galaxy’s Recognition Means for Korea’s Startup Ecosystem

For the startup ecosystem, Galaxy Corporation’s recognition signals a pivotal shift in how Korea’s cultural technology sector is perceived at policy and diplomatic levels.

Traditionally, state honors in APEC contexts have gone to major corporations or public institutions. Galaxy’s inclusion represents an official acknowledgment that AI-based creative enterprises now occupy a strategic position in Korea’s global innovation agenda.

This event could influence policy direction in creative AI, IP commercialization, and entertainment-tech investment, with implications for future collaborations between private startups and government-led diplomacy initiatives.

The commendation also bolsters investor confidence in the sustainability of Enter-Tech models, validating the idea that such ventures can simultaneously achieve economic scalability and national value creation.

For global readers—especially founders and VCs observing Asia’s startup evolution—Galaxy’s recognition illustrates how cultural innovation and AI integration are shaping new avenues for cross-border influence and venture growth.

A Turning Point for Korea’s Creative-Tech Diplomacy

Galaxy Corporation’s Presidential Commendation is more than an industry milestone—it reflects a structural transformation in how Korea positions its creative technologies as diplomatic assets.

As the country deepens its AI and cultural-tech investments ahead of 2026, the Galaxy case provides a working model of how startups can participate in national branding and international policy through technology and creativity.

In this emerging global landscape, the line between innovation, culture, and diplomacy is no longer distinct. Galaxy Corporation’s recognition marks Korea’s entry into an era where AI-driven entertainment is not only a commercial frontier, but also a strategic pillar of global engagement.

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