CJ ENM Recommits Mission of Spearheading Globalization of K-pop and Music Content In Celebration of 30th Anniversary

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM has pledged to keep spearheading global expansion of K-pop and its music content, commemorating its three-decade journey of creative innovation and cultural impact. The company held a private special exhibition “House of the Visionary: Story to Culture” on March 6 at its headquarters with an insight talk featuring key architects of its iconic mega-hit music programs. 

Since the launch of its entertainment business in 1995, CJ ENM has been at the forefront of the Korean cultural industry as the K-content visionary. For its music business, Mnet, CJ ENM’s top musical channel, has continuously pioneered K-pop music broadcasting and talent discovery including leading K-pop 5th generation boy group ZEROBASEONE through K-pop boy group debut project BOYS PLANET, and played a pivotal role in bringing K-pop to the global stage. From the world’s No.1 K-POP chart show M COUNTDOWN to the world’s No.1 K-POP awards MAMA AWARDS, Mnet has been at the forefront of connecting global K-pop fans through music for three decades.

The global IP powerhouse reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the expansion of K-pop and its music content at home and abroad through its MCS (Music Creative eco-System), which encompasses IP planning, platforms, and management. The insight talk brought together CJ ENM’s Chief Producers Kim Shin-young and Choi Jung-nam, who will take the helm of BOYS II PLANET and WORLD OF STREET WOMAN FIGHTER, respectively.

“Our focus remains on discovering potential, nurturing talent, and opening new eras through creation," said Chief Producer Kim Sinyoung, who is preparing BOYS II PLANET. It would be the world’s first-ever K-pop global twin project to form two different debut groups for two different languages and regions, set to be produced in Korean and Chinese and aired in the second half of the year.  “We will keep pushing the boundaries to create a program differentiated from other audition programs,” Kim added, following the success of previous projects like BOYS PLANET and the I-LAND series.

ZEROBASEONE, the nine-member boy group formed through BOYS PLANET, has claimed 18 rookie awards within six months of their debut and achieved five consecutive million-seller albums. The group also topped both Japan’s Oricon Weekly Album Ranking and Weekly Combined Album Ranking. Similarly, a rookie K-pop girl group izna, created through I-LAND2: N/a, demonstrated their global reach by topping Japan's Apple Music K-pop album ranking and entering iTunes Top 10 Album charts in 14 countries worldwide upon debut.

Chief Producer Choi Jung-nam, who created STREET WOMAN FIGHTER and other STREET series which sparked nationwide dance crazes with dance challenges going viral globally, expressed confidence in the upcoming WORLD OF STREET WOMAN FIGHTER, set to premiere in May. Choi noted the new series will feature “talented elite dance crews representing their countries and compete to determine the true world-class dance crew,” further expanding CJ ENM’s global dance content footprint. 

Meanwhile, Mnet also marked its 30th anniversary on March 1. Mnet has been synonymous with K-pop and consistently pioneered formats that defined the K-pop music landscape for generations at home and abroad. In celebration of its three-decade legacy, Mnet launched a new brand slogan — “K-POP GENERATION Mnet,” in a reflection of its unwavering commitment to bring people together through music beyond ages and borders.