The creative forces behind last year's most beloved global hits—including "The Tyrant's Chef," "Boys Planet," "Severance: Disconnected," "Marry My Husband," and "Study Group"—gathered under one roof.
CJ ENM (035760) announced on January 11 that it held its "2026 Visionary Awards" ceremony on January 10 at the CJ ENM Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, honoring visionaries who demonstrated cultural influence and sustainability worldwide. CJ ENM's "Visionary" awards, launched in 2020, is a distinctive ceremony recognizing individuals and works that present new visions for the K-entertainment industry. This year's edition focused on "characters" and "character builders" who made meaningful debuts in the industry. The ceremony drew particular attention as global visionaries attended, including American producer Nicholas Weinstock of "Severance: Disconnected" and Japanese actor Takeru Satoh from "Marry My Husband," reflecting the company's growing success in global co-productions and overseas projects.
Park Min-young, who starred in "Marry My Husband," said, "This project was a second chance in my life, just like it was for my character. Though it's a Korean story, I learned that sincerity truly transcends borders." Producer Son Ja-young, who led both the Korean and Japanese versions of the drama, said, "I focused on the cultural differences and viewing perspectives between Korea and Japan. While the Korean version emphasized intuitive storytelling, the Japanese version centered on delicate emotional expression and interpersonal relationships, which enabled us to complete two distinct versions."
CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Lee Mi-kyung said in a congratulatory video message, "Technology has brought the world closer together, but the power that truly connects people lies in storytelling. CJ ENM will stand as a steadfast partner, ensuring your authentic stories become forces that move the world and inspire the next generation to dream bigger." CJ ENM CEO Yoon Sang-hyun said, "Stories that move hearts begin with characters created through collaboration between creators and artists. CJ ENM will spread our 'Only One IP' competitiveness worldwide through characters that leave lasting impressions on people's lives, creating a new ecosystem for the cultural industry."