CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun Visits 'The CJ Cup' in the U.S.

CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun attended the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, with a total prize of $10.3 million, to watch the tournament and assess global business operations. [Photo=Kang Sang-heon]

Lee Jae-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group, visited the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which has a total prize of $10.3 million, to watch the tournament and evaluate global business operations.
On May 24, Korean time, he visited TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. This marks his first visit to the tournament since it was moved to the U.S. in 2020 due to COVID-19 and scheduling conflicts.
During the event, he stayed in a hospitality tent set up between the 10th tee and the 18th green. He closely monitored the tournament, moving to the second-floor railing to watch the tee shots of sponsored players Kim Si-woo and Im Sung-jae as they approached the 10th hole.
Lee's passion for golf and support for Korean players are well-known. He has developed the Jeju Club Nine Bridges and the Yeoju Heasle Nine Bridges to world-class standards and has helped Kim Si-woo and Im Sung-jae establish themselves on the PGA Tour. He continues to support emerging Korean professional golf (KPGA) players like Bae Yong-joon and Jung Chan-min.
The CJ Cup, which Lee spearheaded as Korea's first PGA Tour event in 2017, moved to the U.S. in 2020. Initially facing challenges with venue changes each year, it has now integrated with the traditional Byron Nelson tournament in Texas, paving the way for a new chapter. Last year, it attracted 180,000 spectators, and this year, over 110,000 attendees were recorded after three rounds, solidifying its success in the local market.
A CJ Group representative stated, "The company's core strategy is to expand beyond domestic markets into the global arena, which drives long-term investment. The alignment of our strategic direction with sports marketing has allowed us to actively utilize The CJ Cup as a global sports marketing platform."

CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun visited the House of CJ booth at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson in McKinney, Texas, on May 23, local time, to check on the K-lifestyle experience space and Bibigo booth. [Photo=CJ Group]

On the same day, he also visited the House of CJ booth, a global K-lifestyle space where visitors can experience K-food, beauty, and entertainment, to inspect the setup and brand expansion status.
At the House of CJ booth, various experiences are offered under the themes of "taste, style, and fun," including displays of Bibigo products, a K-beauty experience zone by CJ Olive Young, CJ ENM music content, ScreenX screenings, K-cocktail tastings, Tous Les Jours bakery samples, merchandise giveaways, and photo zones.
Chairman Lee is scheduled to continue his visit until the end of the tournament and is expected to visit the first CJ Olive Young store in the U.S., which opens on May 29 in Pasadena, California.
Meanwhile, Korean players continued to compete for the championship. Kim Si-woo shot three under par in the third round, bringing his total to 21 under par, placing him in the lead. He will face world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (U.S.) at 19 under par (194 strokes) in the final round. Im Sung-jae also made a strong showing, finishing four under par and tying for fourth place at 17 under par (196 strokes).

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon