"I was able to stand here thanks to the Korean audience who spoke about the movie without hesitation," said CJ Group Vice Chairman Lee Mi-kyung for winning the Academy Award for Best Film with the movie “Parasite.”
CJ was the investment distributor of “Parasite,” as it has been for Director Bong Joon-ho’s past movies “Memories of Murder,” “Mother” and “Snowpiercer.”
In March 2018, CJ’s entertainment unit, CJ ENM, signed an investment agreement worth 12.5 billion won ($10.5 million) with film production company Barunson E&A. CJ Group is also reported to have spent more than 10 billion won on its pre-promotional work for the Academy Awards.
“I like everything directed by Bong. I like his smile, his hairstyle, the way he talks and walks, especially the way he directs," Lee said. "What I like most is his sense of humor. He makes fun of himself, but it never gets serious," she said.
"We thank those who supported 'Parasite,' those who worked with them, and those who loved them," she added. In particular, she also told his younger brother, CJ Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, "Thank you for allowing us to dream, even if it's an impossible dream."
The vice-chairman is the granddaughter of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-Chul and has led CJ Entertainment since 1995, investing in more than 300 Korean films.
Vice-Chairman Lee reportedly took care of the Parasite production and expanded it into a global project. Even though she is now out of management due to poor health, she attended Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards in the U.S. as a lead producer.