'King of K-pop' Lee Soo-man reunites with former idols at Hollywood premiere
From left, Choi Si-won, Lee Soo-man and Taemin / Courtesy of A2O Entertainment
Lee Soo-man, the founder and former chief producer of SM Entertainment, has officially returned to public life with the Hollywood premiere of his new documentary “Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop.”
The premiere and after-party were held on Monday (local time) at NeueHouse Hollywood in California. Around 300 key figures from the music and film industries — including actors, singers, hosts, models and influencers — gathered to celebrate the event.
Among the attendees were some of K-pop’s most recognizable names who had worked with Lee during his time at SM Entertainment: Super Junior’s Choi Si-won, SHINee’s Taemin, and Girls’ Generation members Tiffany, Hyoyeon and Sunny. Hyoyeon took the stage as DJ HYO during the party, while Sunny — now training as a producer at Lee’s new agency, A2O Entertainment — also drew attention.
Lee Soo-man, fourth from left, and K-pop artists / Courtesy of A2O Entertainment
Members of Lee’s new international girl groups under A2O, including A2O Rookies and A2O May, were present as well, underscoring his active role in producing new talent overseas.
As a pioneering figure in the rise of first-generation K-pop idols, Lee played a foundational role in the industry’s global ascent. However, he stepped away from SM Entertainment in 2023 following a high-profile management dispute. That same year, he sold his shares in SM to HYBE, and under the terms of that stock sale, he agreed to a three-year noncompete clause that prevents him from producing within South Korea.
Still, Lee faces no such restrictions abroad. Through A2O Entertainment, he has since shifted his focus to producing global talent, with A2O's roster consisting entirely of non-Korean members.
Lee Soo-man, right, and Hyoyeon / Courtesy of A2O Entertainment
While his domestic activities have been largely limited, the premiere of this documentary and his reunion with former SM artists have reignited interest in Lee’s potential influence once his noncompete clause expires. Notably, many of the idols who appeared at the premiere are no longer affiliated with SM, suggesting the possibility of future collaborations once restrictions lift.
Lee maintained strong backing from some artists, a testament to his reputation for visionary producing and trusted mentorship. With the documentary release now complete, industry watchers are closely observing how Lee Soo-man might shape the next chapter of K-pop — both globally and, eventually, at home.
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.