CJ Group Celebrates 70th Anniversary, Embracing 'Humble' Management Philosophy and Vowing to Overcome Crisis

Memorial Event for Late Advisor Son Bok-nam on 1st Anniversary at CJ Talent Center in 3 Days
Chairman Lee Jae-hyun Holds 'Only One Reconstruction Strategy Meeting'

CJ Group celebrated its 70th anniversary on the 5th.

On the morning of the 3rd, at the CJ Human Resources Center in Pil-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, Lee Jae-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group, is delivering a greeting on behalf of the bereaved family at the first anniversary memorial service for the late Son Bok-nam.
[Photo by CJ]

On the morning of the 3rd, CJ Group held a memorial service for the late Advisor Son Bok-nam, who passed away last year on the anniversary of the founding day. In the afternoon, Chairman Lee Jae-hyun presided over a closed-door 'ONLYONE Reconstruction Strategy Meeting.' A group official explained, "Considering the severe management situation, the purpose was to reflect on the management philosophy of the late advisor and the previous chairman, who contributed their entire lives to the growth of CJ Group, and to strengthen our foundation." No external events were held at the group level for the 70th anniversary.

November 5th marks the day when CJ CheilJedang, the origin of CJ Group, first began producing sugar in Korea at its Busan factory in 1953. The late founder Lee Byung-chul designated this as the founding anniversary, and CJ Group has consistently commemorated this day as its founding day since its establishment.

The memorial service for the late Advisor Son Bok-nam, held at the CJ Human Resources Development Center, was attended by Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, Vice Chairwoman Lee Mi-kyung of CJ ENM, Chairman Lee Jae-hwan of Jaesan Holdings, eldest grandson Lee Seon-ho, Head of Food Growth Promotion at CJ CheilJedang, granddaughter Lee Kyung-hoo, Head of Brand Strategy at CJ ENM, Chairman Son Kyung-sik of CJ Group, and other family members and CEOs of major affiliates.

Advisor Son is known to have contributed greatly to the birth and growth of CJ Group, to the extent that Chairman Lee Jae-hyun often described, "My mother was the ship owner, and I am the captain." Advisor Son passed away at the age of 89 on November 5th last year, the group's founding anniversary, making the 70th anniversary also the first memorial service.

On this day, CJ Group dedicated the main education hall at the CJ Human Resources Development Center as the Son Bok-nam Hall, to be used as a space to propagate the entrepreneurial spirit inherited from the late advisor, such as 'humility (謙虛).' The CJ Human Resources Development Center is located on the site where Chairman Lee spent his childhood with the late advisor (26 Pildong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul). In 2003, CJ Group opened the CJ Human Resources Development Center, Korea's first urban training center, in the space that Advisor Son donated to the group for talent development, nurturing the future leaders of the group.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, the ONLYONE Reconstruction Strategy Meeting was held at the CJ Human Resources Development Center, presided over by Chairman Lee. About 30 CEOs and executives from CJ Corporation and group affiliates attended, pledging to overcome the group's crisis and achieve a new leap forward.

At the meeting, Chairman Lee said, "In a situation where the group's growth is stagnant, the responsibility to recall the ONLYONE spirit is more important than ever," and urged, "Please have the earnestness to definitely succeed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.