CJ ENM Announces “2023 Visionary”, Honoring Ten Figures Who Innovated the Entertainment Industry
Park Eun-bin and Lee Jang-jae - CJ ENM
The "2023 Visionary" Award, presented by the South Korean entertainment and media conglomerate CJ ENM, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to trends and breakthroughs in the entertainment business. Since 2020, CJ ENM has recognized individuals for their creativity as visionaries and their new vision for the entertainment business. Beginning with the 2023 Visionary, the ceremony will take place at the start of the year to strengthen its goal of illuminating the future of the entertainment business and motivating people.
The "2023 Visionary" honorees were chosen using statistical analysis, a panel of experts, and international indicators. The five selection criteria are: "One achievement that established a substantial presence with unprecedented achievements in the Korean entertainment industry," "unlimited influence and impact that stretches across various industries, even outside of entertainment," "shapeshifters creating new values that break down stereotypes," "unique creativity coining new genres and characters," and "a global influence that transcends regional boundaries."
60 CJ ENM professionals with expertise in business and content creation, as well as data-based analysis for objectivity, participated in the evaluation process. To find and evaluate the applicants, CJ ENM collaborated with Endeavor Analytics (Endeavor's research and insights section). Utilizing a wide range of worldwide data sources, including celebrity tracking services and social media measurements, Endeavor Analytics created and deployed a proprietary approach. The evaluation's legitimacy is further bolstered by Endeavor Analytics' affiliation with WME, Endeavor's talent agency.
The ten honorees of “2023 Visionary” are as follows:
The entertainment business is inspired by people like actress Kim Hye-soo and filmmaker Park Chan-wook because of their extraordinary talents. With her distinctive character representations in the Netflix show Juvenile Justice, the tvN series Under the Queen's Umbrella, and other shows over the past year, Kim Hye-soo has challenged norms. Park Chan-wook, a renowned director who has won numerous awards, continued his history of unparalleled creativity and mise-en-scene with his Cannes Award-winning film Decision To Leave, which swept the award shows. The achievements of actor Lee Jung Jae and author Chung Seo-kyung transcend the boundaries of their respective disciplines. An international celebrity, Lee Jung-jae received praise this year for his feature film directing debut, Hunt. The tvN series Little Women was written by renowned screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung, who carefully developed the characters and captured the zeitgeist.
Producer Na Yeong-seouk, Don Lee, and Park Eun-bin are known for their originality. The female-cast game program Earth Arcade and the planned Youn's Kitchen spin-off, set to debut in 2023, are just two examples of the variety shows that producer Na Yeong-seok continuously breaks new ground. Don Lee, an actor who has created entire genres for his roles, is currently gearing up for international ventures like reimagining The Gangster, the Cop, and the Devil with Sylvester Stallone as co-producer. This comes after the success of his film The Roundup. By playing a stereotype-defying character in the TV show Extraordinary Attorney Woo, actress Park Eun-bin attracted worldwide attention and reinforced the true worth of acting. Lee Jin-ju, a producer, opened new possibilities and became someone to watch in the business. In a sea of dating reality shows, Lee Jin-ju's mega-hit TVING original series EXchange stood out for its unusual production, converting viewers into devoted followers.
A CJ ENM spokesperson said that while Korean entertainment's worth and influence are growing, following in the "visionaries" footsteps will reveal the limitless potential and vision of the industry. In the same way "visionaries" discover their individuality via exploration and invention, CJ ENM pledged to continue forging ahead and creating IP adored by audiences.
This month, CJ ENM will serve as the host of the Visionary Awards ceremony to give the awards and highlight the direction of the Korean entertainment industry.