How K-Culture Evolved into a Global Industry: Looking Back at the 30-Year Architect
The CNN Original Series “K-Everything,” released on May 9, 2026, is a four-part documentary tracking the global phenomenon of K-culture. Hosted by Daniel Dae Kim, the series explores K-pop, K-film, K-beauty and K-food across its episodes. From major cultural milestones such as “KCON,” “MAMA AWARDS,” “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” and “Parasite” to industry innovations like CGV 4DX theaters and OLIVE YOUNG, the entire series highlights CJ Group as the core engine driving this global phenomenon.
Produced by CNN over an extended period, “K-Everything” confirms that K-culture is no longer just a passing trend, but has established itself as a new cornerstone of the global cultural industry. It highlights that at the center of this movement are not only the creators who craft the content, but also the key players who have built the industrial foundation enabling that very creativity to flourish.
It is no coincidence that the same group is repeatedly mentioned in documentaries across different industries, from K-pop to K-beauty. Over the last three decades, CJ Group has served as the foundational architect, establishing the infrastructure needed to transform K-culture from a temporary phenomenon into a global powerhouse.
■ [K-Film & Cinema Infrastructure] Establishing the Foundation for Storytelling
The K-film episode of “K-Everything” opens with the 2020 Academy Awards. Highlighting the historic moment when “Parasite” won Best Picture, host Daniel Dae Kim introduces Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee with a powerful tribute, stating that “as Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, she practically built an entire industry to export Korean culture.” In this documentary, Vice Chairwoman Lee personally shares the journey in her own words.
The journey dates back to 1995, with the strategic investment in DreamWorks. In the documentary, Vice Chairwoman Lee reflects on that time, recalling how her grandfather, Founder Lee Byung-chull, always told her growing up, “A nation will have the true competitive advantage when the power of culture is combined with industrial and economic growth.” She went on to explain the vital lesson she learned through the partnership, stating, “Entertainment business is making intangible assets into tangible, lucrative business. You need to build infrastructure that the creators and artists can continue to create the storytelling and their performance and their creative activity.”
That very principle led to the creation of CJ CGV, Korea’s first multiplex cinema chain — establishing a structure where creators could more freely produce their work and connect with audiences. Reflecting on this milestone, Daniel Dae Kim remarked, “If you build it, they will come.”
Daniel Dae Kim revisited CJ’s long-term commitment to cultural investment, remarking, “Miky Lee was one of the ones who were insisting that one day Korean culture would be at the center of the world.” He noted that she has consistently provided a stage for talented creators to showcase their work, adding that CJ’s unwavering support “helped aspiring filmmakers like Bong Joon Ho” by providing them with “a place to showcase their movies.” This segment powerfully highlights the profound impact of CJ’s steadfast dedication across the entire K-culture landscape.
The documentary offers an inside look at content production. Through major drama series produced by Studio Dragon, such as “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” “Mr. Sunshine” and the upcoming “Genie, Make a Wish,” the series explores how Korea’s unique narratives have developed exceptional depth and density. Furthermore, the documentary features a firsthand experience of CGV’s 4DX theaters, introducing it as a prime example of redefining the cinematic experience itself by integrating high-tech solutions amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid growth of streaming platforms.
Recalling “Parasite”’s historic Best Picture win at the Academy Awards, Vice Chairwoman Lee shared, “It hit me later just how significant that moment was and that our storytelling could resonate beyond Asia.” It was a crowning moment, building on a journey that started in 1995 and gained global momentum, propelling K-culture even further ahead.
[Card News / CJ ENM] Behind the Scenes of Oscar Glory – CJ Newsroom
[Content Report] Piercing the Heart of Hollywood: The Cultural Soil of Korean Cinema – CJ Newsroom
■ [Global Lifestyle Expansion] Transforming Content Trends into Worldwide Daily Routines
Expanding beyond the silver screen and into daily routines, the K-beauty episode explores the global K-beauty market, which has grown more than threefold over the past 25 years. The series analyzes how the global popularity of K-pop and K-dramas fueled this explosive growth, while introducing OLIVE YOUNG as the definitive, all-encompassing platform bridging cosmetics, wellness and lifestyle.
This connection is by no means a coincidence. It captures a natural flow where global fans watch K-dramas, develop an interest in the actors’ skincare and then seek out Korean beauty products while emulating the style of K-pop artists. It represents a virtuous cycle where content alters consumer behavior and drives an entire lifestyle shift. This is precisely why the documentary views K-beauty not as an isolated phenomenon, but as a natural extension of the broader K-culture ecosystem.
In the tvN documentary “The K,” aired in April 2026, Arden Cho, an actress starring in “KPop Demon Hunters,” shared how thrilling it was to hear her American friends say they want to visit Korea and learn the Korean language. Adding to this sentiment, actor Yim Si-wan noted, “K-content naturally drives people to develop an interest in K-beauty.” Furthermore, big data expert Song Gil-young backed this phenomenon, stating, “A virtuous cycle has been created where people enter through culture, experience it firsthand through tourism, and ultimately connect it to product purchases.”
[I.Pick] Why Does the World Love “K”? The K-Content Syndrome Through the Lens of <The K>
■ [Future Global Vision & Creative Ecosystem] A Platform 30 Years in the Making, Heading into the Next Generation
Daniel Dae Kim also followed up by asking Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee, “What do you see happening in the next 40 years in terms of not just Korean content but global content?”
Highlighting the ultimate vision for K-culture and global storytelling, Vice Chairwoman Lee emphasized, “As long as we have that good storytelling with authenticity, as long as our goal is not just promoting Korean culture, (we will be fine) — our goal is to bring everybody together.” She added, “That’s what I am doing, I believe. If we can do it, you can do it.”
This foundational vision remains very much alive and expanding. In 2025, she launched First Light StoryHouse alongside industry leaders including Janet Yang, the first Asian American president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This new venture aims to bridge the gap between talented Asian creators and the Hollywood mainstream, providing a dedicated platform to amplify their stories and voices.
In addition, CJ has long expanded opportunities for emerging talent through the CJ Cultural Foundation, established in 2006. Furthermore, O’PEN, CJ’s flagship creator support initiative launched in 2017, marks its 10th year of systematically discovering and nurturing rising K-storytellers, providing them with the vital resources to showcase fresh Korean narratives on the global stage.
Another foundational platform pioneered by CJ is the K-pop festival KCON. KCON has evolved beyond a K-pop concert into a comprehensive K-lifestyle platform, offering global audiences the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of Korean culture and lifestyle. In recognition of this widespread cultural impact, the Los Angeles City Council officially designated August 1 as “KCON Day” in 2025. Demonstrating its immense status, the recently concluded KCON JAPAN 2026, held from May 8 to 10, 2026, drew an impressive 140,000 attendees. In parallel, CJ 4DPLEX has solidified its value as a premier global infrastructure, being named twice by U.S. Fast Company as one of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” in the Live Events category.
The vision proposed by Chairman Lee Jay-hyun in 1995, where people around the world watch Korean movies every year, eat Korean food every month, watch Korean dramas every week and listen to Korean music every day, has now become a reality. The title “K-Everything” directly reflects this current reality of K-culture seamlessly woven into global daily lives.
“Captivating New York”: tvN’s <Perfect Glow> Confirms the Global Potential of K-Beauty – CJ Newsroom
■ Key Timelines of K-Culture’s Evolution
- 1995: CJ Group opens the gates to its global cultural business, spearheaded by its milestone investment in DreamWorks.
- 2017–present: CJ launches O’PEN, its flagship creator support initiative, marking its 10th year in 2026 of systematically nurturing future K-storytellers.
- 2020: “Parasite,” a film backed and distributed by CJ ENM, makes history by winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
- 2025: The Los Angeles City Council officially designates August 1 as “KCON Day.”
- 2026: KCON JAPAN 2026, held from May 8 to 10, proves its global status by drawing a massive crowd of 140,000 attendees.
■ FAQ
Q. What is the focus of the CNN documentary “K-Everything,” and why is CJ Group featured so prominently?
A. “K-Everything” is a four-part documentary series that explores the global phenomenon of K-pop, K-film, K-beauty and K-food. Throughout the series, CJ’s flagship content and brands, including “Parasite,” “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” CGV 4DX, OLIVE YOUNG and KCON, are spotlighted as primary case studies driving the worldwide rise of K-culture.
Q. What led global media outlets to focus on CJ as the pioneer of the K-culture movement?
A. Over the last three decades, CJ has served as the definitive architect of the K-culture ecosystem. By spearheading the DreamWorks investment, launching the nation’s first multiplex cinema, CGV, and establishing KCON, CJ laid the groundwork that transformed a transient cultural phenomenon into a highly sustainable global industry.
Q. What initiatives is CJ pursuing to support global creators and emerging talent?
A. CJ has been running O’PEN, its flagship creator support initiative that discovers and nurtures rising storytellers, marking its 10th year of operation in 2026. Additionally, CJ has launched the global production label First Light StoryHouse in partnership with industry leaders to help talented Asian creators break into the Hollywood mainstream.
Q. What are the key milestones of the KCON festival and CJ 4DPLEX as global infrastructures?
A. KCON has expanded its worldwide influence, leading to the official designation of “KCON Day” by the Los Angeles City Council in 2025 and drawing 120,000 attendees to KCON JAPAN 2026, held from May 8 to 10, 2026. In parallel, CJ 4DPLEX has reinforced its value by being named twice by U.S. Fast Company as one of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” in the Live Events category.
