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CJ Entertainment CEO named 'power leader'

Reflecting a year in which Korean films reached new heights, CJ Entertainment CEO Park Dong-ho was named the pop culture "power leader" of 2003 by The Herald Business, a sister newspaper of The Korea Herald.

CJ Entertainment, a film investment and distribution company, claimed 20.6 percent of the domestic distribution market this year to take the number one slot, delivering such box office hits as "My Tutor Friend" and "Memories of Murder".

Korean films wracked up $25 million in exports and grabbed a market share of nearly 50 percent this year, establishing the cinema field as a rising industry in the nation's pop culture scene.

Park was chosen as the pop culture "power leader" of 2003 to represent this trend. Although Park was named the CEO of CJ Entertainment just last month, he has been changing the way Koreans enjoy films for a long time.

Park has served as the CEO of the CGV theater chain, the largest multiplex network in the nation. He still holds the position, giving him an influential hand in every stage of the industry process as films are created, distributed and screened.

Since the launch of the first CGV multiplex in 1998, the film market in Korea has exploded with the innovation of choosing from over 10 screens in a pleasant environment.

Yet Park has maintained that further expansion of the film market is possible, pointing out that the average Korean views just 2.7 films a year compared to over 5.0 for the average American.

Among entertainers, singer Lee Hyori was named the top pop culture icon of 2003. After going solo from the girl quartet Fin.K.L., she became a ubiquitous presence in television shows, stage events and advertisements while every aspect of her life from dancing to clothing to spoken words became fodder for gossip on sports tabloids.

Sidus Corporation CEO Cha Seung-jae, SBS President Yun Se-young, Orion Entertainment CEO Lee Hwa-kyung, film director Kang Woo-suk, Sidus HQ CEO Jung Hoon-tak, actor Song Kang-ho, singer BoA and Culture Minister Lee Chang-dong rounded out the top 10 list of power leaders.

By Kim Jin

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