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CJ Group Accelerates European Expansion Under Chairman Lee Jay-hyun

Prime Highlights

  • CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun emphasizes faster global growth and identifies Europe as the next strategic region after the United States.
  • The company plans to strengthen its presence in Europe, leveraging opportunities from the global popularity of Korean culture (Hallyu).

Key Facts

  • CJ Group will begin producing Bibigo dumplings at a plant in Hungary starting in the second half of 2026 for distribution across Europe.
  • Lee met with investors, entertainment experts, and business leaders in London, including Len Blavatnik (Warner Music) and Bronwen Maddox (Chatham House), to discuss growth opportunities and market trends.

Key Background:

CJ Group is growing internationally, with Chairman Lee Jay-hyun leading its move into Europe. Earlier this month, he visited London to oversee the expansion, along with Vice Chair Miky Lee, CJ Corporation CEO Kim Hong-ki, and CJ ENM CEO Yoon Sang-hyun.

During meetings with local executives, Lee emphasized the need to accelerate global growth. “To become a global leading company, we must speed up our territorial expansion, including in Europe,” he stated. Highlighting the region’s potential, he added, “After the United States, which serves as our global business hub, we should actively seek new growth opportunities in the European market.” The chairman also stressed the importance of capitalizing on the Korean wave (Hallyu), which continues to gain popularity across the continent.

Lee’s visit was his first on-site leadership trip in Europe. He met with investors, entertainment experts, and business leaders to talk about growth opportunities. He also spoke with Len Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries (which owns Warner Music), about trends in the media and entertainment industry.

Additionally, he met Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, to learn how changes in trade and security could impact business in Europe. Additionally, Lee spoke with sports marketing specialists, including Michael Payne, to explore how companies can use sports for business and marketing.

CJ Group has been expanding its overseas management activities steadily, with visits to Japan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia in recent years. The company first established a food subsidiary in Germany in 2018, marking the beginning of its European operations. Looking ahead, CJ plans to produce Bibigo dumplings in Hungary from the second half of 2026 for distribution across the region.

A company spokesperson highlighted that the London trip reflects CJ’s broader strategy to strengthen its global presence in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. “We aim to enhance our competitiveness in the global market with a focus on food, beauty, and entertainment,” the official said.

With a clear focus on local market penetration and leveraging the global popularity of Korean culture, CJ Group is positioning Europe as a key strategic region to fuel its next phase of growth.

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