CJ Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee to Receive Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Celebrating Her Unparalleled Contributions to Culture and Media
- The awards, presented by the Ellis Island Honor Society, will take place May 10 in New York City
Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ, will be awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor at a gala on May 10 in Ellis Island’s Great Hall in New York City. Lee is being celebrated for her incomparable contributions to culture and media leading one of the world’s largest entertainment companies.
“We are thrilled to include Miky Lee as one of this year’s prestigious honorees,” said the Ellis Island Honors Society, which hosts the event. “Over the past three decades, Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, has been instrumental in elevating Korean culture to the world stage. As the executive producer of groundbreaking films like Parasite—the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture—and Decision to Leave, she has played a pivotal role in bringing Korean cinema to international prominence. In addition, Ms. Lee’s dedication to nurturing future generations of creators, emphasizing the power of storytelling to foster empathy and unity across cultures are worthy of recognition and celebration."
Lee has significantly enhanced the international recognition of Korean film, television, and music. She has been a strong advocate for cultural dialogue between the East and West, making a substantial contribution to the global prominence of Korean culture. As executive producer of the Academy Award®-winning film Parasite and the Academy Award-nominated film Past Lives, Lee has been deeply connected to the entertainment industry in America for years, including as an early investor in DreamWorks in 1995. Her work has earned her copious accolades, including the 2022 International Emmy Directorate Award, the Pillar Award from the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit in Korea in 2023, and the Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council in 2024. Lee currently serves on the board of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Berklee College of Music, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Hammer Museum, and the Otis College of Art and Design.
“This evening is a tribute—one that honors perseverance, accomplishment, and service. We recognize the remarkable contributions of 85 individuals to the United States and the world,” said Ellis Island Honor Society Chairman Nasser J. Kazeminy. “These honorees, representing a wide range of disciplines, exemplify the extraordinary potential of a nation built on freedom and opportunity. America's rapid progress is a testament to its ability to harness the energy and ingenuity of its people. Nowhere else in history has freedom and individual dignity been more accessible and protected. When people think of the 'Land of the Free,' the United States stands alone.”
The Ellis Island Medals of Honor have been presented annually since 1986 who represent and contribute to the vibrant tapestry that is America. 2025 honorees include such luminaries as Adrien Brody, Albert Bourla, Frank McCourt Jr., Dr. Frank Luntz, and Nobel Prize winners Dr. James Patrick Allison and former Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu. Past honorees include eight Presidents of the United States, Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel and Malala Yousufzai; Frank Sinatra; Rosa Parks; Mike Wallace and Rita Moreno. Each of them has earned recognition for their remarkable philanthropic, artistic, intellectual, and humanitarian contributions. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives officially recognize the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.