History | CJ Group

60 years of making culture

The History of CJ

Pioneer years to a total food corporation

With our founder’s core vision, “Business Patriotism” at heart, CJ paved the way for
economical independence post Korean War by establishing Korea’s very first sugar plant,
and expanded into the flour, seasoning, and oil industries, advancing as a total food company.

1953
- Established CheilJedang Co., Ltd. (current CJ CheilJedang)
- Production of Korea’s first sugar
1958
- Entered the milling industry
1962
- Began Korea’s earliest sugar export
1963
- Entered the seasoning industry
1965
- Launched flagship food brand Beksul
1973
- Entered the feed industry (current CJ Feed&Care)
1975
- Launched DASHIDA, an all-purpose seasoning brand
1977
- Launched AIMEE, a nucleotides seasoning
1978
- Established a food research center
1979
- Launched Beksul Cooking Oil
1980
- Entered the meat processing industry
1987
- Entered the frozen foods industry
1988
- Entered the bio industry in Indonesia

Expansion as a total lifestyle group

After declaring the Group’s vision as a total lifestyle group, CJ expanded into four core industries,
Food & Food Services, Bio, Logistics & Retail, and Entertainment & Media.

1993
- Declared CheilJedang as a separate legal entity
1994
- Entered the dining industry (current CJ Foodville)
- Entered the food service industry (current CJ Freshway)
1995
- Entered the information systems industry (current CJ OliveNetworks)
- Entered the construction industry (current CJ Logistics E&C Div.)
- Entered the film industry (current CJ ENM E&M Div.)
1996
- Constitution of CheilJedang Group
- Launched Hetbahn,
  Korea’s first precooked rice product
- Entered the feed industry in Indonesia
- Entered the cinema industry (current CJ CGV)
1997
- Launched VIPS, a premium steakhouse
- Entered the media industry (current CJ ENM E&M Div.)
- Launched TOUS les JOURS, a healthy bakery brand
- Entered the feed industry in the Philippines
1998
- Established a nucleotide plant in Jombang, Indonesia
- Entered the retail & logistics industry,Established CJ GLS (current CJ Logistics)
- Opened CGV Gangbyeon 11, Korea’s first multiplex
1999
- Launched Olive Young, Korea’s first health & beauty store
- Entered the food distribution industry (current CJ Freshway)
2000
- Korean conglomerate to introduce horizontal company culture
- Established CJ Entertainment (current CJ ENM E&M Div.)
- Established CJ Foodville
- Opened CGV GOLD CLASS, Korea’s first premium theater
- Established CJ Food System (current CJ Freshway)
2001
- Opened Club Nine Bridges golf club in Jeju, Korea

Cultivation of the four core industries and global entry

After reaching top performance in the four core industries within Korea,
CJ expanded overseas, advancing as a global corporation.

2002
- Constitution of CJ Group
- Established CJ Media (current CJ ENM E&M Div.)
- Hosted CJ Nine Bridges Classic, Korea’s first LPGA tour
2003
- Entered the performance industry (current CJ ENM E&M Div.)
- Entered the feed industry in China
- Opened CJ HumanVille
2004
- Entered the bakery industry in the USA, Launched the first TOUS les JOURS in LA
2005
- Entered the bio industry in China,
  Established a bio plant in Liaocheng
- Established CJ Welfare Foundation,
  Constitution of CJ Donors Camp
- Initiated N Seoul Tower operations
- Established a bio plant in Piracicaba, Brazil
- Entered the bakery industry in China,
  Launched the first TOUS les JOUR in Beijing
- Entered the food industry in the USA
2006
- Entered the cinema industry in China,
  Launched the first CGV in Daning
- Introduced tvN, a total entertainment channel
- Established CJ Culture Foundation
- Entered the logistics industry in Southeast Asia
2007
- Opened CGV CINE de CHEF, a high-end movie theater
- Entered the bakery industry in Vietnam, Launched the first TOUS les JOURS in Ho Chi Minh
- Entered the bio industry in Brazil
2009
- Opened 4DX, the world’s first multisensory movie theater
- Opened Haesley Nine Bridges golf club in Yeoju, Korea
2010
- Entered the cinema industry in the USA,
  Opened the first CGV in LA
- Hosted MAMA, a global music awards show in Macao
- Launched bibigo, a global K-Food brand
- Launched CJ ONE, an integrated membership service
2011
- Established CJ E&M (current CJ ENM E&M Div.)
- Opened CGV Cheongdam CineCity, Korea’s first cultureplex
- Entered the bakery industry in Indonesia,
  Launched the first TOUS les JOURS in Jakarta
- Entered the cinema industry in Vietnam
2012
- Hosted KCON, a K-Culture festival in LA
2013
- Merger of CJ GL S and CJ Korea Express (current CJ Logistics)
- Entered the bio industry in the USA,
  Established a bio plant in Fort Dodge
- Entered the health & beauty store industry in China,
2014
- Introduced the 4DX industry in the USA
2015
- Entered the bio industry in Malaysia, Established a methionine plant.
- Expanded logistics business sites in China, Merger of CJ Logistics and Rokin Logistics
- Entered the feed industry in Cambodia, Established a plant in Phnom Penh

Pursuit of top global corporation

Reaching the top in Korea through our ONLYONE values,
CJ strives to be World Best CJ by 2030 through active global expansion.

2017
- Entered the soybean protein industry in Brazil,
  Merger of CJ CheilJedang and Selecta
- Opened CJ Blossom Park,
  an integrative R&D hub
- Hosted THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, a PGA TOUR
2018
- Merger of CJ Logistics & CJ E&C (current CJ Logistics)
- Merger of CJ E&M & CJ O Shopping (current CJ ENM)
- Expanded logistics business sites in the USA,
  Merger of CJ Logistics and DSC
- Entered the feed industry in Myanmar,
  Established a plant in Yangon
2019
- Expanded food business sites,
  Merger of CheilJedang and Schwan’s Company
- Opened CJ Blossom Campus, an Innovative production hub
- Opened CJ The Center, CJ Group’s Headquarters