Lee Soo-man Returns to Entertainment Industry with A2O Amid Non-Compete Concerns

Lee Soo-man, the former chief producer of SM Entertainment, has officially announced his return to the entertainment industry with the newly established A2O Entertainment. However, this comeback has raised questions within the industry regarding whether it violates the 'non-compete agreement' he signed with HYBE last year.

According to the music industry on the 28th, Lee Soo-man agreed to a non-compete clause when he sold his shares in SM Entertainment to HYBE in February last year. The agreement prohibits him from engaging in music production in South Korea for three years, until early 2026.

Despite this, on the 25th, Lee Soo-man unveiled new talents under the name 'Rookies' through platforms like YouTube, associated with A2O Entertainment. He also revealed unit names such as 'Rookies LTB' and 'Rookies HTG'. Details on when and how these groups will debut remain undisclosed. Lee Soo-man's name was listed as the producer in the video.

Lee Soo-man's representatives have stated that his role as a producer for A2O Entertainment's new talents does not conflict with the non-compete agreement.

They argue that A2O Entertainment's corporate base supports this claim. A2O is headquartered in Singapore, with branches in the United States, Japan, and China. Lee Soo-man aims to nurture global talents of various nationalities through this setup.

Previously, in a letter to the media upon leaving SM in March last year, Lee Soo-man expressed his vision, stating, "As always, I move towards the future. K-pop must evolve beyond its current boundaries to become global music." He emphasized his focus on the world of global music.

Reporter Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr