CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee received the Centennial Medal of Lifetime Achievement at the 2026 Asian Hall of Fame ceremony, held on November 5 (local time) in Los Angeles, California.
The Centennial Medal of Lifetime Achievement is a special honor recognizing inductees who exemplify outstanding character and have made significant contributions to advancing industry excellence, cultural impact and interracial collaboration. Miky Lee is being honored in recognition of her more than three decades of leadership in connecting Korea with the world through film, music and television, expanding the global reach of Korean content and fostering cross-cultural exchange.
Throughout her career, Lee has played a pivotal role in connecting creators and industry leaders across borders and cultures, helping Korean content and artists reach audiences worldwide and opening doors to new collaborations and opportunities. The award recognizes not only her contributions to bringing Korean content to international markets, but also her long-term vision and leadership in building an environment where different cultures can engage, collaborate and grow together.
In her acceptance speech, Miky Lee reflected on her lifelong belief in the power of culture. “Culture is like oxygen. We may take it for granted, but we cannot live without it,” she said. She also recalled CJ’s ambition to help lay the foundation for Korea’s entertainment industry and create an ecosystem where storytellers could thrive. “Looking back, I am proud of what we have built together and deeply grateful to those who believed in us along the way,” she added.
She underscored the importance of creating opportunities for future generations and empowering the next wave of creators, stating, “Our greatest legacy is not simply what we have accomplished, but the opportunities we create for those who come after us. I hope the next generation will dream bigger than we ever dared, and challenge what we thought was possible.”
Lee also reflected on her global journey to bring Korean music to audiences worldwide through Mnet, MAMA AWARDS and KCON. “We wanted to create a space where a new generation could discover local music and share their passion and creative ideas. That’s why we launched Mnet,” she said. “Mnet was more than a music channel. It was a community that embraced youth culture, where artists and creatives could express themselves and fans could connect.” She noted that people from different countries, speaking different languages, were singing the same songs and sharing the same joy. “‘Music Makes One’ was our dream, and the fans brought it to life,” Lee added, expressing her deep gratitude to fans around the world.
This year’s ceremony also featured Soo-man Lee, Key Producer of A2O Entertainment, who presented the honor to Miky Lee. The moment drew particular attention as the two industry leaders have played significant roles in each other’s recognition at the ceremony. Last year, Miky Lee served as the presenter for Soo-man Lee’s induction into the Asian Hall of Fame. This year, Soo-man Lee took the stage to present the honor to Miky Lee, adding a meaningful chapter to their shared legacy in the Korean entertainment industry, including K-pop.
Presenting the medal, Soo-man Lee, Key Producer of A2O Entertainment, praised Miky Lee for her contributions to the global cultural industry. “Last year, Miky was very generous when she introduced me. She called me the ‘Godfather of K-pop.’ Well, tonight, I’d like to return the favor. If I am the Godfather of K-pop, then Miky Lee is the Godmother of K-culture,” he said.
Soo-man Lee paid tribute to Miky Lee’s early vision and leadership in bringing Korean culture to the world. “Korea was hardly a major player in the global entertainment industry. But Miky saw something others didn’t,” he said, recalling 1995. “So, she helped lead CJ’s investment in DreamWorks, taking a bold step into Hollywood.” He added, “But Miky was one of the people who saw the possibilities early and had the courage to act. To me, that is true leadership.”
Asian Hall of Fame is a cross-cultural educational and research institution dedicated to advancing public recognition of Asian and Indigenous legacy, early-career achievement, and interracial collaboration. The 22nd induction ceremony honored a distinguished group of global figures, including Miky Lee, BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ, and baseball legend Hideo Nomo.
The ceremony was also attended by prominent figures from the global music, film, art and business communities, including Korean hip-hop icons Tiger JK and Yoon Mi-rae, X Japan’s leader Yoshiki, K Pop Demon Hunters director Maggie Kang, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Director and President Amy Homma, writer-director-producer Lisa Joy, Locarno Film Festival President and LUMA Foundation founder Maja Hoffmann, and early Google founding board member and early investor Ram Shriram.
Miky Lee’s leadership in the cultural industry has been rooted in long-term investments and the development of an ecosystem to support the global growth of Korean content. Key milestones include CJ’s investment in DreamWorks SKG in 1995 and the opening of CGV Gangbyeon in 1998, Korea’s first multiplex cinema. Through these and other initiatives, she helped expand the foundations of Korea’s film, television and music industries, creating opportunities for Korean content to reach international markets.
In film, Lee has consistently championed distinctive creative voices, helping elevate the global standing of Korean cinema. As an executive producer of Parasite, she played a key role in supporting the film’s journey to international acclaim. In 2020, Parasite made history at the Academy Awards as the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture, taking home four awards in total.
In music, Lee has helped establish global platforms that bring K-pop and Korean culture to audiences worldwide. Launched in the United States in 2012, KCON, the world’s largest K-pop fan & artist festival, has evolved beyond a music event into a global convention celebrating Korean food, beauty, lifestyle and entertainment. Meanwhile, the MAMA AWARDS, which began as the Mnet Video Music Awards in 1999, has grown into the No.1 K-pop Awards, captivating music fans around the globe through its distinctive creative vision and production.
Lee’s vision extends beyond introducing Korean content to international audiences. She continues to build connections between creators from diverse cultural backgrounds and the global entertainment industry. One example is the First Light StoryHouse, CJ ENM’s global label dedicated to discovering distinctive stories from Asian creators. Through the label, CJ ENM supports projects from the early stages of development, including direct investment and co-production, helping foster a content ecosystem capable of engaging audiences worldwide.
