Lee Soo Man

Lee Soo Man (이수만) is the architect of modern K-pop. Born in Jeonju, South Korea on June 18, 1952, he began his career as a singer in the 1970s before studying computer engineering at California State University, Northridge. Inspired by MTV-era superstars like Michael Jackson, he returned to Korea in 1985 with a blueprint for industrializing pop music. In 1989, he founded SM Studio in Apgujeong, Gangnam, later rebranding it as SM Entertainment in 1995. What followed was a three-decade run that produced every generation of K-pop royalty: H.O.T. (1996), S.E.S. (1997), BoA (2000), TVXQ (2003), Super Junior (2005), Girls'Generation (2007), SHINee (2008), EXO (2012), NCT (2016), and aespa (2020). His "Culture Technology" framework, which systematized trainee development, regional localization through sub-units, and worldbuilding across artists, became the operating system the entire industry runs on. In February 2023, Lee sold his 14.8% stake in SM Entertainment to HYBE Corporation for 422.8 billion won ($286 million), triggering a corporate battle between HYBE and Kakao for control of SM. The deal included a three-year non-compete clause. Lee used the exile productively, establishing A2O Entertainment through his private company Blooming Grace, headquartered in Singapore with offices in Los Angeles and Seoul. A2O debuted its first act, the all-Chinese girl group A2O MAY, in December 2024. In May 2025, Amazon Prime Video released Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop, a documentary directed by Ting Poo (Val) chronicling his journey from a folk singer in Jeonju to the architect of a multi-billion-dollar global industry. The film premiered May 12 at NeueHouse Hollywood, attended by Taemin, Siwon Choi, and members of A2O MAY, who performed live on the red carpet. A2O MAY debuted in late 2024 with "Under My Skin," a track reconstructed from TVXQ's "Mirotic" and Sarah Connor's "Under My Skin," followed by high-energy single "BOSS." With his non-compete expiring at the end of February 2026, Lee is preparing to re-enter the Korean market and the industry he built is watching closely.