CJ Vice Chairman Lee Mi-kyung Named to Forbes' "50 Over 50 Global Women Leaders"

"Leading the Growth of the K-Content Industry"

Lee Mi-kyung, Vice Chairman of CJ Group. Provided by CJ ENM

CJ ENM announced on January 22 that Lee Mi-kyung, Vice Chairman of CJ Group, has been included in Forbes' "50 Over 50 Global: 2026," a list of successful women over the age of 50. Lee is the only Korean to be named on this year's list.

Since 2021, Forbes has annually selected women leaders over the age of 50 who have overcome age and gender barriers to drive innovation across industries. This year’s list features entrepreneurs and innovators from 36 countries around the world, leading diverse sectors such as aviation, architecture, and resources.

Forbes highlighted Lee as a key figure who has driven the growth of Korea's content industry. She led the entertainment business of CJ Group and established its industrial foundation. In particular, she is recognized for participating as an early investor in DreamWorks, which enabled her to establish a global collaboration structure early on and expand the reach of Korean cinema.

Among her major achievements, Forbes pointed to her role as executive producer of the film "Parasite" in 2020, which became the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The magazine also highly praised her for establishing the global label "First Light Story House" in 2025 to discover Asian creators and story-based content, thereby expanding the potential of Asian storytelling.

Other honorees on this year’s list include Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister; Spanish actress Penelope Cruz; French chef Anne-Sophie Pic; and Rei Kawakubo, founder of Comme des Garcons in Japan, who were named alongside Vice Chairman Lee.