The growing global influence of South Korean entertainment took center stage in Los Angeles as Rosé, a member of the internationally acclaimed K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, and Miky Lee, the South Korean media executive who helped build Hollywood connections for Korea’s entertainment industry, were named among the 2026 Asian Hall of Fame honorees.
Their recognition brings together two generations of Korean cultural influence. Lee, vice chair of South Korean conglomerate CJ Group, spent more than three decades helping Korean film, television and music reach international markets. Rosé represents the generation of performers who have transformed K-pop into a global entertainment phenomenon.
The recognition also comes as Korean cultural influence increasingly extends into American consumer markets. CJ, whose businesses span entertainment, food and retail, used the Los Angeles ceremony to promote its media and beauty operations, linking the popularity of Korean entertainment with its ambitions to expand its commercial presence in the United States.
Lee received the Centennial Lifetime Achievement Medal of Honor at the November 5 ceremony in recognition of her contributions to the international growth of Korean entertainment.
As one of the driving forces behind CJ’s entertainment business, Lee helped develop relationships between South Korea’s entertainment industry and Hollywood long before Korean productions gained widespread international recognition.
Her involvement in CJ’s early investment in DreamWorks was among the efforts that established connections with the American film industry. Over the following decades, she continued to support the international expansion of Korean film, television and music.
Lee’s work has earned several international honors, including the International Emmy Directorate Award in 2022, South Korea’s Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit in 2023 and a global citizenship award in the United States in 2024.
At the Los Angeles ceremony, she received her latest honor from Lee Soo-man, the veteran South Korean music producer who played a major role in developing the modern K-pop industry.
Lee Soo-man, who entered the Asian Hall of Fame in 2025, recalled that Miky Lee had introduced him as the godfather of K-pop at the previous year’s ceremony. He returned the compliment by describing her as the godmother of Korean culture.
In her acceptance speech, Miky Lee compared culture to oxygen, saying its importance is often overlooked despite being essential to everyday life. She thanked those who supported her work and emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for younger generations.
Rosé’s inclusion among this year’s honorees reflects a different chapter in the international rise of Korean entertainment. As a member of BLACKPINK, one of South Korea’s most successful internationally recognized music groups, she belongs to a generation of artists who have helped bring K-pop to audiences around the world.
While Lee helped establish international business relationships that supported the growth of Korean entertainment, performers such as Rosé have become some of the most recognizable figures in its global expansion.
The ceremony also demonstrated how Korean companies are seeking to build businesses around that cultural influence.
CJ ENM, the entertainment and media division of CJ Group, and CJ Olive Young, the conglomerate’s Korean beauty retail chain, participated as official sponsors of the event.
CJ ENM oversaw event branding and international networking activities aimed at strengthening entertainment industry connections. Olive Young provided gift packages featuring Korean beauty products to celebrities and other prominent guests, seeking to raise its brand profile in the American market.
The combined marketing effort reflects CJ’s strategy of promoting Korean entertainment and beauty as connected businesses rather than separate industries.
The 22nd annual Asian Hall of Fame ceremony also recognized former Major League Baseball pitcher Hideo Nomo, Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC and international restaurant chain Din Tai Fung.
Established in 2004 by the Seattle-based Robert Chinn Foundation, the Asian Hall of Fame honors individuals and organizations of Asian and Indigenous heritage for achievements in entertainment, business, sports, technology and philanthropy.
The private black-tie ceremony also served as a charitable fundraiser supporting scholarship and professional development programs, including educational opportunities for women pursuing careers in technology, entertainment, science and sports.
The recognition of Lee and Rosé illustrates the breadth of South Korea’s cultural expansion, from executives who cultivated ties with Hollywood to performers whose music has reached global audiences.
Their inclusion in the same American hall of fame also highlights how Korean entertainment has grown beyond its original boundaries, creating a wider cultural presence that companies such as CJ are seeking to extend into beauty, retail and other consumer businesses.
