CJ ENM has selected six top-performing titles, talented creative leaders, and beloved characters for its 2026 Visionary Awards. However, this announcement is not only about recognizing popular entertainment. It reveals the company’s strategic blueprint for building intellectual property (IP) that expands across platforms, enters new markets, and deepens fan loyalty. Here’s what the selections reveal.
CJ ENM Reveals 2026 Visionary Selections
CJ ENM has selected six IPs with outstanding characters and casts, which bring them to life, for its 2026 Visionary Selections.
The selections followed a two-stage evaluation. First, the company analyzed commercial success, its contribution to the platform’s growth, and audience reception. Then, a 20-member committee conducted in-depth reviews centered on sustainable IP value and character influence.
The announcement showcases the work of directors, writers, and producers, and accentuates the impact of the characters. The six selected titles are:
- “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty”
- “BOYS II PLANET”
- “Severance” (American series)
- “Marry My Husband” (Korea and Japan)
- “Our Unwritten Seoul”
- “Study Group”
2026 CJ ENM Visionaries
“Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” (2025)
Starring Lim Yoona and Lee Chae Min as Yeon Ji-young and Yi Heon, “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” became a global phenomenon in 2025. The K-drama that centered on cooking and a complex romance became a global phenomenon. It successfully topped Netflix’s #1 spot for non-English content for two consecutive weeks and maintained Top 10 status for an extended 10-week run.
Director Jang Tae Yoo received recognition as a 2026 Visionary for bringing Korean cultural elements around cooking and romance to international viewers.
The show works as comfort content with Korean cultural elements, not just food romance. This means “K-flavor” works globally when presented as a daily emotion rather than as an exotic detail.
“Boys II Planet” (2025)
“Boys II Planet” is a global project on CJ ENM’s K-POP platform, Mnet Plus, that drew fans from 223 countries and regions. The show didn’t just entertain; it gave viewers real means to shape the outcome through their votes.
This reality competition survival show has launched an eight-member group, ALPHA DRIVE ONE. They became a “super rookie,” achieving “million-seller” status with their first album.
Producer Kim Shin Young received the 2026 Visionary award for this global journey. He brought together millions of fans and turned passive viewers into active co-creators through voting power.
“Severance” (2022-…)
“Severance” produced by CJ ENM’s global studio, FIFTH SEASON. This premium series is known for its original world-building and complex storytelling, with actor Adam Scott playing Mark Scout, the show’s key figure.
The series won 8 awards from an unprecedented 27 Emmy nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Producer Nicholas Weinstock successfully brought millions of viewers to Apple TV and created a new standard for quality content.
Its global success reveals CJ ENM’s strategic strength. The company’s global ambitions are beyond exporting Korean formats. It’s about investing in themes that connect with viewers today by engaging with common anxieties about work, identity, and burnout.
“Marry My Husband” (2024 & 2025)
“Marry My Husband“ was released in Korea and Japan simultaneously. The webtoon-based drama demonstrated the worldwide potential of K-IP and CJ ENM’s excellent localization abilities. In Japan, the show drew record viewership in its first month and became the most-watched Amazon Original drama.
Actor Takeru Satoh played Suzuki Wataru and showed revenge in a new, hopeful way. Park Min Young’s character, Kang Ji-won, delivered a fresh take on Korean revenge stories through her portrayal.
Producer Son Jay of Studio Dragon received the Visionary Award for the series. He proved that global success isn’t achieved through simple translation. It needs to adapt its character choices and emotional logic to ensure audiences across cultures can accept the unfolding plot.
“Our Unwritten Seoul”
TIME magazine listed K-drama “Our Unwritten Seoul“ among “10 Best K-Dramas of 2025.” The show was praised for its varied and distinct characters and locations.
Park Bo Young played twin sisters, Mi-ji and Mi-rae, who develop a bond and personal growth. They move between urban Seoul and their rural hometown, creating an appeal that resonates with audiences.
Writer Lee Kang won the 2026 Visionary award for his writing, which explores people caught between two environments and traditions. He also gives voice to experiences that many people share but struggle to describe.
“Study Group”
TVING Original “Study Group” won an award by a Streamer in the Fiction category at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards. This victory proved that TVING is a strong and competitive global K-culture OTT platform.
Hwang Min Hyun starred as Youn Ga-min and delivered a notable breakout performance. The character he played was very true to the webtoon story. He made the character feel real.
Director Lee Jang Hoon won the Visionary award for showing the broad appeal of Korean webtoon-based school-action content. Under his direction, he successfully brought the webtoon story to life and created Korean school-action content that engaged with young people worldwide.
2026 Visionary Awards Ceremony
A CJ ENM representative stated,
“Throughout 2025, CJ ENM continued to explore new creative frontiers across television, music, platforms, and global content, captivating audiences worldwide with our distinctive characters and stories. As a global IP powerhouse, we will continue to introduce IPs loved by audiences around the world and present a future vision for a sustainable K-content industry.”
The message is clear. CJ ENM isn’t just celebrating the winners. It’s building a vision. K-content in the future won’t be built on hype, but will run on sustainability. On distinctive characters, not trends. And, on sustainable stories that keep audiences coming back.
The announcement showed the map. The ceremony is the next big moment.
CJ ENM’s 2026 Visionary Awards Ceremony takes place on February 10, 2026, at the CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, bringing together award-winning creators from Korea and around the world.
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