CJ Group

CJ Group is a South Korean conglomerate headquartered in Seoul and organized around CJ Corporation, a holding company that coordinates a broad portfolio of operating affiliates. Its principal activities are food and food service, biotechnology, logistics and retail, and entertainment and media. The group operates internationally and is one of South Korea’s major chaebol, although its corporate history began as a manufacturing business within Samsung Group rather than as a diversified conglomerate. The organization originated in August 1953 as CheilJedang, a sugar and flour manufacturer and Samsung’s first manufacturing business. The name CJ derives from CheilJedang, commonly translated as “first sugar manufacture,” reflecting the company’s original sugar-making activity. Early development included the opening of a flour mill, exports of sugar to Japan, the Beksul food brand, seasoning products, animal feed, cooking oil and mass-produced nucleic-acid seasonings. During the 1980s, the business expanded into processed foods, beverages, frozen foods and biotechnology, while beginning to establish international operations and manufacturing capacity. CheilJedang became independently managed after its 1993 spin-off from Samsung and completed its formal separation from the Samsung Group in 1997. This transition marked a broader strategic shift from food and bio-manufacturing toward what the company described as a life-and-culture business. CJ entered food service, cinema, cable television, music, home shopping, logistics and other consumer-facing sectors through acquisitions, joint ventures and newly created affiliates. The CGV multiplex chain and VIPS restaurant brand became visible examples of this diversification, while Mnet and later CJ E&M gave the group a major role in Korean popular culture. In 2002, the group adopted the CJ Group name, and in 2007 CJ Corporation was reorganized as a business holding company. Its major affiliates now include CJ CheilJedang in food and bio, CJ Logistics in logistics, CJ Olive Young in health and beauty retail, CJ ENM in entertainment, media and commerce, and CJ CGV in cinema. Other important businesses and brands associated with the group include CJ Foodville, TOUS les JOURS, VIPS, CJ Freshway, CJ Feed & Care, CJ Bioscience, TVING and Studio Dragon. CJ’s international strategy has combined acquisitions, local manufacturing and the export of Korean brands and cultural content. CJ CheilJedang expanded its frozen-food platform in North America through the acquisitions of Kahiki Foods and Schwan’s Company, while the bibigo brand became a principal vehicle for global Korean food distribution. CJ Logistics expanded through acquisitions and local operations in Asia, the United States and elsewhere. CJ Olive Young has become an influential retail and distribution channel for Korean cosmetics, particularly among international visitors and overseas consumers. The group has also been a prominent commercial force behind Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. CJ-related businesses have produced and distributed television programs, films, music programming and live cultural events. The MAMA Awards and KCON helped connect Korean pop music with international audiences, while CJ’s film and television businesses were involved in internationally recognized Korean content, including the film Parasite. Through its combination of consumer brands, distribution infrastructure and cultural properties, CJ Group positions itself as a platform connecting Korean food, beauty and entertainment with global markets. CJ remains associated with the Lee family and retains family ties to Samsung. Its history has included high-profile governance and legal controversies, including a public inheritance dispute within the Lee family and the 2013 arrest and 2014 conviction of chairman Lee Jay-hyun for tax evasion and embezzlement. He received a presidential pardon in 2016 and resumed management duties in 2017. The group subsequently accele…

CJ Group began in August 1953 as CheilJedang, a sugar and flour manufacturer established within Samsung Group. It represented Samsung’s first manufacturing venture. The early company developed a flour mill, exported sugar to Okinawa in 1962, introduced the Beksul brand for sugar and related food products, and entered seasonings, feed and cooking oil. Its food-manufacturing base expanded through products such as Dashida and nucleic-acid seasoning, while the business gradually acquired the technical capabilities that later supported its biotechnology division. During the 1980s, CheilJedang broadened its portfolio into beverages, frozen foods and biotechnology. It established an American subsidiary through a joint venture, developed alpha-interferon and a hepatitis vaccine, and began building overseas manufacturing capacity. Operations in Indonesia and later facilities for MSG and lysine signaled a move from a primarily domestic food manufacturer toward an international food-ingredient and bio business. The decisive corporate transition came in the 1990s. CheilJedang was spun off from Samsung in 1993, became CheilJedang Group in 1996 and completed its formal separation in February 1997. At the same time, it entered food service, media, entertainment, logistics, home shopping and finance. The group opened VIPS, helped establish the CGV cinema chain, acquired or developed businesses connected with Mnet, CJ Internet and home shopping, and created logistics operations that later became part of CJ Logistics. Products such as the hangover beverage Condition and aseptic packaged rice Hetbahn strengthened the consumer-food portfolio. The CJ Group name was adopted in 2002. In 2007, CJ Corporation was reorganized as a business holding company overseeing food, bio, logistics and retail, and entertainment and media affiliates. This structure enabled the group to manage a portfolio that included CJ CheilJedang, CJ Foodville, CJ Logistics, CJ Olive Young, CJ ENM and CJ CGV. CJ’s media operations became increasingly important: CJ Media, CJ Entertainment, Mnet Media, On-Media and CJ Internet were consolidated into O Media Holdings in 2010, which became CJ E&M in 2011. CJ’s cultural businesses helped commercialize and internationalize Hallyu. Its television, music and film activities produced or distributed popular Korean programs and movies, while the MAMA Awards and KCON connected Korean music with audiences outside Korea. Cinema operations developed the “cultureplex” concept by combining theaters with restaurants, shops and performance or cultural facilities. The group’s involvement in internationally recognized content, including Parasite, reinforced its position at the intersection of Korean entertainment and global media. After Lee Jay-hyun resumed management duties in 2017, CJ pursued restructuring and overseas growth. CJ CheilJedang consolidated its business divisions into food and bio groupings, acquired Selecta in Brazil, and later acquired Kahiki Foods and Schwan’s Company in the United States. CJ Healthcare was sold to Kolmar Korea. CJ ENM was created through the 2018 merger of CJ E&M and CJ O Shopping. CJ Logistics expanded through businesses and acquisitions in Vietnam, the United States and other markets, while CJ Olive Young became a prominent channel for Korean health, beauty and cosmetics brands. The group’s current development strategy combines international manufacturing and distribution with the export of Korean lifestyle content. bibigo is a leading vehicle for global food expansion; CJ Logistics provides international supply-chain infrastructure; Olive Young supports K-beauty discovery and distribution; and CJ ENM, TVING, Studio Dragon, CJ CGV, KCON and MAMA extend CJ’s entertainment ecosystem. The group has also continued to divest or restructure selected businesses, including finance, beverages and certain restaurant and media assets. Its history is consequently defined by transformation: from sugar and flour production, through food and biotechnology, into a diversified global conglomerate built around food, culture, commerce and logistics.

1. 2021Endeavor Content acquisition

   CJ ENM acquires Endeavor Content, later rebranding the business as Fifth Season.

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2. 2019Schwan’s acquisition

   CJ CheilJedang acquires Schwan’s Company to strengthen its North American food platform.

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3. 2018CJ ENM is created

   CJ E&M and CJ O Shopping merge to create CJ ENM.

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4. 2017Restructuring and global expansion accelerate

   Following Lee Jay-hyun’s return to management, CJ reorganizes businesses and increases international expansion.

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5. 2012KCON launches in Los Angeles

   CJ introduces KCON, combining K-pop performances with Korean cultural programming.

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6. 2011CJ E&M is formed

   Several media and entertainment operations are combined into CJ E&M.

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7. 2002CJ Group name adopted

   The organization formally adopts the CJ Group identity.

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8. 1998CGV multiplex launches

   CJ launches South Korea’s first multiplex cinema through CGV.

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9. 1997Formal separation and diversification

   The separation from Samsung is completed, while CJ expands into media, logistics, food service and entertainment.

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10. 1993Spin-off from Samsung

    CheilJedang becomes independently managed after separating from Samsung.

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11. 1962Sugar exports begin

    The company begins exporting sugar to Okinawa, Japan.

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12. 1953CheilJedang is established

    CheilJedang begins as a sugar and flour manufacturer within Samsung Group.

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A Korean-origin global lifestyle and culture conglomerate linking food, biotechnology, logistics, retail, entertainment and media. CJ emphasizes the international distribution of Korean consumer products and cultural content while maintaining large domestic operating businesses.

• BeksulFood ingredients and packaged food1965

  Beksul is one of CJ CheilJedang’s historic food brands, originating in the company’s sugar business and later extending across household cooking ingredients and related packaged-food products. It represents CJ’s long-running domestic food-manufacturing heritage.

• bibigoGlobal Korean food

  bibigo is CJ CheilJedang's principal international food brand, covering products such as dumplings and other Korean-inspired prepared and frozen foods. The brand is used to introduce Korean flavors to mainstream consumers in North America, Asia and Europe, supported by localized production and distribution.

• CJ LogisticsLogistics1998

  CJ Logistics provides freight, contract logistics, parcel delivery and supply-chain services. The affiliate has expanded beyond South Korea through local operations and acquisitions, including businesses in Vietnam and the United States, making logistics a major international pillar of the CJ portfolio.

• CJ Olive YoungHealth and beauty retail

  CJ Olive Young is a Korean health-and-beauty retail chain offering cosmetics, personal care, wellness and lifestyle products. It is also an important discovery and distribution channel for emerging Korean beauty brands and has become highly visible to overseas visitors to South Korea.

• CJ ENMEntertainment, media and commerce2018

  CJ ENM combines entertainment production and distribution with commerce activities. Its ecosystem includes television, film, music, digital content, live cultural events and home-shopping-related operations. The business has been central to CJ’s contribution to Hallyu through programs, films, K-pop initiatives and international events.

• CJ CGVCinema exhibition1998

  CJ CGV operates multiplex cinemas and develops the group’s cultureplex model, which combines film exhibition with food, retail and other cultural experiences. The chain began in South Korea and subsequently expanded internationally.

• TOUS les JOURSBakery

  TOUS les JOURS is CJ Foodville’s bakery franchise. It has operated in South Korea and overseas markets including the United States, China and Vietnam, using a café-bakery format and adapting products to local markets.

• VIPSRestaurant1997

  VIPS is a premium steak-and-salad restaurant concept associated with CJ Foodville. The brand formed part of CJ’s early move from packaged food into food service and has also had an international presence in Asia.

• 2012KCON

  United States · Japan · Saudi Arabia · Germany · Global

  CJ created KCON as a combined K-pop concert and Korean-culture convention, bringing music, food, beauty and lifestyle programming to overseas audiences.

  Outcome. The event expanded beyond Los Angeles to multiple international markets and became a major live platform for Hallyu.

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• 2009MAMA Awards

  Asia · Global

  CJ launched the Mnet Asian Music Awards to promote Asian popular music and provide an international platform for K-pop artists.

  Outcome. The awards became a recurring international music property associated with CJ ENM and the expansion of Korean pop culture.

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• 2021Acquire Endeavor ContentM&A

  CJ sought to expand its global film and television production capabilities.

  What changed. CJ ENM acquired Endeavor Content, which was subsequently rebranded as Fifth Season.

  Aftermath. The acquisition broadened CJ ENM’s access to international production and content distribution.

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• 2019Acquire Schwan’s CompanyM&A

  CJ wanted stronger North American manufacturing, distribution and frozen-food capabilities.

  What changed. CJ CheilJedang acquired Schwan’s Company.

  Aftermath. The transaction strengthened CJ’s platform for international expansion of frozen Korean and Asian foods.

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• 2018Merge CJ E&M with CJ O ShoppingM&A

  CJ aimed to connect content production, media distribution and commerce.

  What changed. CJ E&M and CJ O Shopping were merged to create CJ ENM.

  Aftermath. CJ ENM became the group’s principal entertainment, media and commerce platform.

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• 2017Restructure CJ CheilJedang divisionsStrategy

  CJ CheilJedang pursued clearer business priorities as the group accelerated global expansion.

  What changed. Four divisions covering bio, feed and livestock, food and materials were consolidated into bio and food groupings.

  Aftermath. The reorganization supported a more focused food-and-bio growth strategy and international acquisitions.

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• 2011Create CJ E&MStrategy

  CJ consolidated several media and entertainment assets to build a larger integrated content business.

  What changed. CJ Media, CJ Entertainment, Mnet Media, On-Media and CJ Internet were combined through O Media Holdings, which became CJ E&M.

  Aftermath. CJ E&M became a major contributor to Korean television, film, music and Hallyu expansion.

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• 1993Separate from SamsungStrategy

  CheilJedang sought independent management and a broader strategic identity beyond Samsung’s manufacturing structure.

  What changed. The company was spun off from Samsung and later completed its formal separation in 1997.

  Aftermath. The separation enabled CJ to diversify into food service, entertainment, media, logistics and retail.

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• 2013Lee Jay-hyun tax and embezzlement caseControversy

  Chairman Lee Jay-hyun was arrested in 2013 in connection with allegations of tax evasion and embezzlement. He was convicted in 2014 and later released under a presidential pardon in August 2016.

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• 2013Lee family inheritance disputeControversy

  Members of the Lee family, including Lee Maeng-hee and Lee Sook-hee, brought civil claims against Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee concerning alleged concealment and control of inheritance-related Samsung assets. A court rejected Lee Maeng-hee’s claim in January 2013 for insufficient evidence.

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• 2021CJ ENM acquires Endeavor Content

  CJ ENM acquired the film and television production business later rebranded as Fifth Season.

  M&A
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• 2020CJ expands its international food and culture platform

  CJ continued international expansion of its food, media, logistics, and retail businesses, with Korean popular culture and Korean food serving as important global growth themes.

  Other
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• 2019CJ acquires Schwan’s Company

  CJ CheilJedang acquired the American frozen-food company to expand its North American production and distribution platform.

  M&A
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• 2018CJ E&M and CJ O Shopping combine to form CJ ENM

  The merger combined CJ’s entertainment-media operations with its commerce business.

  M&A
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• 1993CJ Group separates from Samsung

  Cheil Jedang became independent from Samsung, establishing the corporate foundation of the later CJ Group.

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1. CJ Group
2. CJ expands its international food and culture platform