[Press Release] CJ ENM Demonstrates 'Unrivaled' Global Competitiveness with Four Nominations at the Asian Academy Creative Awards

CJ ENM has received significant nods at this year's AACA Awards for its drama and variety shows, asserting its prowess in global production.

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​Leading entertainment company CJ ENM proudly announces that its hit dramas "Island - Drama" and "Duty After School", as well as the entertainment shows "Wedding Fighters" and "BOYS PLANET", have all been selected as 2023 AACA National Winners and are now in contention for top honors.

The Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA), held annually in Singapore in December, is the most prominent content awards ceremony in Asia, dedicated to reviewing and celebrating the best in Asian content for the year. Entries from 17 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam, undergo rigorous evaluation to determine a single winner in each category. The award winners will be unveiled during the awards ceremony scheduled for December 7th.

CJ ENM and its subsidiary production company Studio Dragon have achieved remarkable success this year at the AACA by securing major nominations for their TVING originals, "Island - Drama" and "Duty After School". In the last year's awards, CJ ENM secured prestigious awards in key categories such as Best Drama Series for "Twenty Five Twenty One", Best Screenplay for "Our Blues", and Best Original Production by a Streamer/OTT for "Yumi's Cells".

"Island - Drama", directed by Bae Jong and written by Oh Bo-hyeon (KIT Production), produced by YLAB Flex and Studio Dragon, has been nominated for Best OTT Original. This series, set against the stunning backdrop of Jeju Island - Drama, has received critical acclaim as a "fantasy action drama like no other" and made history as the first K-content to break into top 10 on Amazon Prime Video in 63 regions, according to Flixpatrol. The series has also been officially invited to screen at the 2023 Canneseries earlier this year.

"Duty After School", directed by Seong Yong-il, created by Lee Nam-gyoo and written by Yoon Soo-I, produced by Studio Dragon and GTIST, has been nominated for Best Visual or Special FX in TV or Feature Films. The show enhanced the original webtoon's unique world and brought its distinctive creativity to the forefront, presenting a spectacular "K-school warfare" genre that maximized the audience's genre pleasure through realistic and spectacular visuals. Earlier this year, the drama has been officially invited to screen at Seriesmania.

CJ ENM's variety shows have also shone brightly. "Wedding Fighters", a real-life couple survival show where couples put 2.9 billion won on the line, has earned a nomination for Best General Entertainment, Game or Quiz Programme. It received praise for delivering unexpected narratives through the real couple's survival in the lead-up to marriage.

Additionally, "BOYS PLANET", a debut project for the 5th generation of K-POP boy groups, has secured a spot as a finalist for Best Music Program. This show has garnered immense attention by producing "ZEROBASEONE", a boy group that achieved million-seller status upon debut, solidifying its position as the most talked-about K-POP act.

Sehee Jang, Head of Global Marketing, expressed her enthusiasm at CJ ENM's achievement, stating, "Four shows, each of different genres, from CJ ENM, have been named National Winners in this prestigious award ceremony. We aspire to secure a victory at the Gala, thereby bringing further honor to the world of K-content".

The Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA), where K-content will compete against numerous works from diverse regions across the Asia-Pacific, is scheduled to take place in Singapore on December 7th this year.