Im Mi-kyung, Vice Chair of CJ ENM, discussed the growth of the Korean content industry and its global expansion strategy in the CNN documentary "K-Everything." He highlighted the importance of "authentic storytelling" as a key factor in the global spread of Korean culture, stating, "It is crucial not just to promote Korean culture but to connect people worldwide through stories."
According to CJ ENM, Im shared these insights during the broadcast of "K-Everything" on May 9, where he addressed the global competitiveness of Korean content and the future vision of the cultural industry.
He added, "I hope our experiences and journey can serve as a possibility and inspiration for others."
CNN's original series "K-Everything" is a four-part program that explores the evolution of K-culture into a global phenomenon. The documentary identifies CJ's pioneering role in the cultural business as a driving force behind the growth of K-content, covering various sectors including film, drama, and music.
Particularly, it emphasizes Im's role as a leader in establishing K-culture as a sustainable global industry.
In the documentary, Im reflected on the investment by DreamWorks in 1995, recalling his grandfather, Lee Byung-chul, who often said, "A nation can only gain true competitiveness when the power of culture combines with industry and economic strength."
He further noted, "I learned that the entertainment industry is about developing intangible assets into sustainable industries and businesses, and it is vital to build infrastructure and a creative ecosystem that allows creators and artists to continue their storytelling and creative activities."
The broadcast also highlighted the journey of CJ's support and investment in films, from Park Chan-wook's "Oldboy," which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, to Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite," which won four Academy Awards in 2020. When "Parasite" won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Im expressed gratitude to the audience, saying, "What I really want to say is thank you to the viewers who love Korean films. Thank you for cherishing our films and sharing your opinions generously."
In the documentary, Im stated, "I realized that our storytelling can resonate with people around the world, beyond Asia."
Over the past 30 years, Im has led the globalization of the Korean cultural industry. His contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Academy Museum Pillar Award in 2022, the International Emmy Directorate Award in 2022, the Gold Crown Cultural Medal in 2023, the Abu Dhabi Festival Award in 2024, the Global Citizen Award in 2024, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2025.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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