CJ ENM, marking the 30th anniversary of its cultural business expansion, announced on the 29th that it will leap forward as a "global IP powerhouse" based on its founding spirit of "ONLYONE."
Earlier on the 28th, CJ ENM held a "DAY1 meeting" for all employees to reflect on the passion and challenge spirit of the first day of its cultural business. Employees gathered in casual attire symbolizing a creative atmosphere, eating pizza and cola while reminiscing about the innovative founding spirit when CJ took its first step into the cultural business 30 years ago.
The "DAY1 meeting" was more than just a commemorative event; it served as a meaningful occasion to integrate the founding spirit of "new, diverse, and flexible attempts" from the day CJ's cultural business began into the present and to reaffirm its commitment to new challenges in the global market.
Yoon Sang-hyun, CEO of CJ ENM, reflected on the past 30 years in a message to members, noting, "CJ started the cultural business 30 years ago, challenging the cultural business 'first' with the spirit of ONLYONE, collaborating with the world's 'best' experts, and pursuing 'differentiated' businesses that others had never even thought of."
CJ took its first step into the cultural business by investing in DreamWorks, established in Hollywood, USA, by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen in April 1995. In May of the same year, it officially declared its entry into the video industry. Over the past 30 years, CJ has led the industrialization and globalization of Korean cultural content by showcasing content and IP across various fields such as film, music, broadcasting, performance, and animation.
CEO Yoon emphasized, "To capture the hearts of customers in a rapidly changing media environment, new approaches are needed rather than past success formulas," adding, "Now, when the content industry is at a crossroads for survival, is actually an opportunity to reshape market competition and lead the recovery of the health of the Korean content and platform ecosystem."
CJ ENM presented key growth strategies, including strengthening qualitative competitiveness centered on well-made content and systematic securing of original IP, synergy between linear and digital platforms, developing global mega IPs and co-production with strategic countries to leap as a 'multi-national studio,' and fostering an organizational culture full of new attempts and challenges.