Visionaries Behind Globally Beloved Original IPs Unite CJ ENM Hosts the 2026 VISIONARY AWARDS

- Awards ceremony on February 10, honors visionaries for global impact and sustainability

- Visionaries from global projects, including <Severance (U.S.)> and <Marry My Husband (Japan)>, attended the event, highlighting CJ ENM’s global expansion

- The venue was designed around the concept of the Originality Construction Site, representing a space where one story does not end, but a new one begins

SEOUL, Feb 11, 2026 — Leading entertainment company CJ ENM hosted the 2026 VISIONARY AWARDS on Feb. 10 at its CJ ENM Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, recognizing visionaries with proven cultural impact and long-term sustainability across the global entertainment industry.

Since 2020, CJ ENM has designated as “Visionaries” the creators and works that have introduced new creative visions to the entertainment industry and expanded their cultural impact worldwide through distinctive originality. This year, viewing characters as a core driver of IP competitiveness that are widely loved by global audiences and scalable across multiple genres and platforms, CJ ENM selected the actors who portrayed these characters, along with the directors, producers, and writers who created them from six globally acclaimed titles, as the 2026 Visionaries. The honorees include <Bon Appétit, Your Majesty>, <Boys II Planet>, <Severance>, <Marry My Husband>, <Our Unwritten Seoul>, and <Study Group>.

The awards venue was specially designed around the theme of an “Originality Construction Site,” envisioned as a space for building a House of Inspiration. The originality of a story is not a finished product but a process of deconstruction and reconstruction that leads to the next narrative. The Visionary Awards embody this philosophy, symbolizing a place where one story does not end, but a new one begins.

The ceremony brought together Visionaries who, over the past year, collaborated with CJ ENM to create original IPs that captured global audiences. This year, the event drew particular attention as Visionaries from international co-productions and overseas projects attended, including producer Nicholas Weinstock of <Severance (U.S.)> and Takeru Satoh of <Marry My Husband (Japan)>.

Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, said in a congratulatory video message, "Technology has brought the world closer than ever, but it is stories that truly bring people together. Your stories carry the power to shape the world and inspire the next generation to dream bigger. CJ ENM will be your partner in this journey."

Lim YoonA from <Bon Appétit, Your Majesty> shared her award remarks, saying, “It was a great joy to portray Yeon Ji-young, a strong and wise character who never loses her dream, no matter the circumstances.” Lee Chae Min expressed his aspirations, stating, “I hope to contribute to the global expansion of K-dramas and K-culture.” Director Chang Tae You shared his creative approach, explaining, “While creating a work that blends fantasy, romance, and food, I focused on delivering an intuitive and enjoyable experience for viewers without letting the various elements clash. I paid particular attention to maintaining the balance between character growth and romance in this food-survival drama.”

ALPHA DRIVE ONE from <Boys II Planet> said, “Boys II Planet gave us our first opportunity to meet the world. We are also grateful to ALLYZ for always believing in and supporting us.” They added, “We will carry the meaning of being Visionaries in our hearts and strive to deliver a cathartic experience on stages around the globe.” Producer Kim Shin Young shared her insights, stating, “The essence of an idol audition program lies in convincing viewers of the appeal of its characters through compelling storytelling, and this is a non-negotiable principle. Maintaining a relentless focus on characters and story is what sets Mnet’s audition programs apart.”

Park Min Young from <Marry My Husband> said, “This project was like a second chance in my life. While it tells a Korean story, I learned that sincerity resonates with audiences worldwide.” Takeru Satoh added, “As actors, we are constantly thinking about how to make the roles we play more compelling and more loved by the audiences. It's a great honor to be here with all of you professionals who create these unforgettable characters.” Son Jay, the producer who led both the Korean and Japanese versions, shared her directorial philosophy, stating, “We paid close attention to the cultural differences and audience perspectives between Korea and Japan. While the Korean version focused on more intuitive storytelling, the Japanese version emphasized subtle emotional expression and interpersonal relationships, allowing two distinct versions of the drama to be realized.”

Park Bo Young from <Our Unwritten Seoul> referenced a memorable line from the drama, “Yesterday is over, tomorrow is far away, and today is still unknown,” expressing her gratitude by saying, “This work will shine brightly in my filmography for years to come.” Writer Lee Kang added, “I completed this project leaning on the support of many people. I feel that my goal of writing a story that offers even a little comfort has been partially achieved, and I am truly grateful for the greater comfort I have received in return.”

Nicholas Weinstock, producer of <Severance>, praised the event, saying, “In the past few years as people are talking about Korean dramas and comedies and K-pop and all of it. I'm very excited about the commitment that many of us in this room are making to telling great and bold stories. I think there’s a reason CJ ENM is giving the Visionary Award rather than a quarterly revenues award. I believe it’s a company devoted to boldness and creativity. He also expressed his admiration for Youn Yuh-jung, a 2021 Visionary and the first Korean actor to receive an Academy Award, who appeared as a presenter at the event. “I watched Minari three times in a row just to see her performance,” he said. Adam Scott greeted Korean fans in a congratulatory video, saying, “I love playing Mark. It's the character I've been waiting to play my entire career.”

Hwang Min Hyun from <Study Group> expressed his appreciation to the Wanna One members who attended the event to support him, saying, “As I prepare for Study Group Season 2, I will do my best to show a more grown-up version of myself.” Director Lee Jang Hoon expressed his gratitude, saying, “This has been a very meaningful project. My son, who is serving in the military, even told me that he respects his father more because of it. Adapting the original webtoon was challenging, but it was made possible thanks to Hwang Min Hyun.” The event also featured a performance by ZEROBASEONE’s Park Gun Wook and Seok Matthew, who contributed to the Study Group OST.

CJ ENM CEO Yoon Sang-hyun stated, “The most compelling stories begin with characters shaped together by creators and artists. We will expand ONLYONE IPs, stories that become life-defining works for audiences worldwide and build a new ecosystem for the global cultural business.”