CJ, First CEO Born in the 1990s Takes the Helm... The Key Player Behind the Hit 'Experience Screening Room' Content

4D Flex Appoints CEO Bang Junsik
First 1990s-born Executive Outside Business Owners
Joined in 2018... Promoted to Executive in 9 Months

On the 18th, CJ appointed Bang Junsik, a management leader born in the 1990s, as the CEO of CJ 4DPLEX, a subsidiary of CGV, during its regular executive personnel reshuffle. This is the first time a person born in the 1990s has taken the helm within the CJ Group. It is also the first time a non-owner has become a CEO, not only in the distribution industry but also across the broader business community.

In the regular executive personnel reshuffle, CJ designated Bang as the new CEO of CJ 4DPLEX. Bang, who joined CJ 4DPLEX in 2018 with prior experience, achieved a rapid promotion by rising to the top position just nine months after being named an executive in February this year. The company explained, "We boldly expanded the role of young talent to lead innovation in the theater business and global business expansion based on content competitiveness."

4DPLEX is a company that owns the technology for the special effects-based immersive screening system '4DX.' 4DX is a special theater that allows viewers to experience movies not just visually but physically, offering a 4D movie experience (an advancement from 3D movies that includes vibrations, motion, water, wind, and other unique sensations). Recently, 4DPLEX has been producing and distributing original content by combining the existing 4DX with CGV’s special theater ScreenX technology, which utilizes three screens?the front screen plus the left and right walls.

Bang joined the company in 2018 with prior experience. He has since served as head of the content business team and leader of the content business innovation task force, and was promoted to head of the content division in the February executive appointment this year. As head of the content division, Bang is credited with planning and globally distributing numerous CGV-specialized contents using ScreenX technology, such as BTS’s 'Yet To Come In Cinema' and Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres,’ contributing to revenue growth.

In fact, CJ 4DPLEX recorded sales of 40.2 billion KRW in the third quarter of this year, showing a growth rate of over 60% compared to 25 billion KRW in the same period last year. This growth is attributed to the success of original content led by Bang as head of the content division, including 'Lim Youngwoong: I’m Hero The Stadium,' and an approximately 83% increase in content production based on ScreenX technology. The company stated, "Through new businesses such as original content, we achieved a stable profitable structure by diversifying sales."

Bang has drawn attention for reaching the CEO position faster than Lee Sunho, the eldest son of Chairman Lee Jaehyun. Both were executives born in the 1990s within CJ Group, but Lee did not receive a promotion or expanded role in this reshuffle. CJ stated, "The group will continue to conduct personnel appointments based on ability and performance, placing top talent in the right positions."

In this reshuffle, CJ appointed Heo Minhwe, CEO of CGV, as the new head of management support at the holding company. Heo, a financial expert, has played the role of a 'troubleshooter' whenever the group or its affiliates faced crises. When CJ Foodville was in crisis in 2013 due to the absence of the group’s head, Heo served as the group’s chief operating officer and led the group to stability. With this appointment, Heo returns to the holding company and will serve as co-CEO of CJ Corporation alongside Kim Honggi.

CJ also promoted Lee Sunyoung, head of CJ ENM’s commerce division business, to CEO of CJ ENM’s commerce division. For the vacant CGV CEO position due to Heo’s move, CJ appointed Jung Jongmin, head of CGV’s Turkey branch. Additionally, CJ designated 21 new management leaders. The average age of the new management leaders is 44.9 years, with 12 born in the 1980s. A company official emphasized, "We selected talented individuals who delivered excellent performance regardless of rank or age."