CJ Group Vice Chair Miky Lee Honored with Lifetime Achievement Medal in Los Angeles

Miky Lee, the vice chair of Korea's CJ Group, has received the Asian Hall of Fame's Centennial Medal of Lifetime Achievement during a ceremony in Los Angeles. K-pop pioneer Lee Soo-man presented the award to Lee, calling her the godmother of K-culture as he returned the favor from a previous event where she had introduced him as the godfather of K-pop. The Asian Hall of Fame awards this medal to inductees who display strong character, raise industry standards, make a cultural impact, and work across racial lines. Miky Lee was recognized for more than three decades of connecting Korean creators with global audiences through film, television, and music.

The Journey

Lee Soo-man shared that the two have been friends for over 50 years, recalling how she was already a boss figure even when they first met during their school years. He noted that back in 1995 when CJ was still a food company, Korea was not yet a major player in global entertainment, but Miky Lee saw potential that others missed. She helped guide CJ's DreamWorks investment that year, aided in transforming the Korean film industry with CGV, and helped turn KCON and the MAMA Awards into worldwide platforms. In her acceptance speech, Miky Lee noted that her drive came from her grandfather, who founded CJ and Samsung and famously said that a country needs culture to survive. She and her brother Jay decided to move the family business from entertaining people's mouths to their eyes and ears.

Global Impact

Miky Lee detailed how the DreamWorks deal provided a chance to learn from industry leaders, which led to launching CGV as Korea's first multiplex in 1998, moving into cable TV, and starting production house Studio Dragon. She also mentioned Mnet's creation to give young people a place to find homegrown music, pointing out that while Korean television once played mostly American pop songs, that balance flipped by the 2000s. She highlighted notable Korean filmmakers she has worked with, including Bong Joon Ho, Park Chan-wook, Lee Chang-dong, and "Squid Game" creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, alongside directors like Celine Song and Maggie Kang. Miky Lee served as an executive producer on Bong's film "Parasite," which made history in 2020 by winning four Academy Awards, including best picture for a non-English language film. The 22nd induction ceremony also honored other notable figures including Blackpink member Rosé and baseball player Nomo Hideo.

Context

The Asian Hall of Fame is an educational and research organization that highlights the achievements of Asian and Indigenous leaders across various fields. Over the past three decades, the globalization of Korean entertainment—often referred to as the Hallyu wave—has grown from regional popularity into a major economic and cultural force worldwide. Executives like Miky Lee played a foundational role in building the corporate infrastructure, studio networks, and international distribution deals that allowed Korean cinema and music to reach massive audiences outside domestic markets.