CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Lee Mie-kyung is once again drawing attention in the United States as a central figure behind the global spread of Korean culture.
The Hollywood Reporter, a leading U.S. entertainment publication, recently featured Lee as a representative leader who spearheaded the global leap of Korea's cultural industry in an in-depth article titled "How Korea Took Over World Pop Culture." The outlet described her as "a key architect and 'godmother' who designed the global spread of K-culture."
The publication analyzed that K-culture's worldwide success was "not a spontaneous phenomenon but the result of decades of meticulous planning." It emphasized that "at the center of it stands Vice Chairwoman Lee Mie-kyung."
Global creators also praised Lee's influence. Soo Hugh, showrunner of the Apple TV+ drama *Pachinko*, said, "Lee Mie-kyung is the person who made Hollywood realize that Korean culture has economic value."
The article also cited CJ's investment in Hollywood film studio DreamWorks as a landmark moment in the history of Korea's cultural industry. Lee explored possibilities for global collaboration from the early days of DreamWorks' founding, and CJ invested approximately $300 million to acquire a stake in DreamWorks and secure Asian distribution rights.
The Hollywood Reporter assessed that this collaboration went beyond a mere financial investment and became a critical turning point for the development of Korea's cultural industry. Through the partnership with DreamWorks, Lee gained firsthand experience in global film production and distribution systems, and applied those lessons directly to the growth of Korea's content industry. CJ built a system for film investment, production and distribution and introduced the multiplex theater business, laying the foundation for the growth of Korea's cultural industry. The industrial ecosystem created through these efforts became a launchpad for Korean creators such as directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook to hone their skills and rise to become world-renowned masters. The outlet noted, "Korea's modern film industry effectively started from a single investment decision."
Korean content subsequently began to establish unrivaled competitiveness in the global market. The article highlighted the achievement of *Parasite*, for which Vice Chairwoman Lee served as executive producer, becoming the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, setting a new record in film history. The article also referenced a recent Academy Awards ceremony where Maggie Kang, director of the Netflix animation *K-Pop Demon Hunters*, said, "I'm sorry it took so long for a film like this — one where people who look like me are the main characters — to be made." The Hollywood Reporter analyzed that the wave of K-culture that had continued since *Parasite* appeared to have finally reached its peak.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that K-culture's global influence has entered a new phase that goes beyond simple expansion into partnership. Korea's content industry, once positioned as a competitor to Hollywood, has now established itself as a partner for collaboration and co-production. CJ, which contributed to building Korea's film industry infrastructure roughly 30 years ago, has now become a core pillar of the Hollywood business, and Korean directors and producers are active as equal collaborative partners in the global content market, the outlet reported. However, the publication added that maintaining the creative authenticity and production capabilities that drove K-culture's success could be an important challenge going forward.
Vice Chairwoman Lee has led the globalization of Korea's cultural industry for over 30 years, serving as a bridge between East and West. In recognition of these contributions, she has received numerous honors, including the Academy Museum Pillar Award (2022), the International Emmy Directorate Award (2022), the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit (2023), the Abu Dhabi Festival Award (2024), the Global Citizen Award (2024) and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2025).
Lee currently serves as a board member of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where she continues to support Asian creators in gaining access to the world stage of cinema. She is also dedicated to discovering Asia-based content and creators through her global label, First Light Storyhouse.