Lee Soo-man returns to Korean music production with two A2O groups
In short
SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man unveiled the 15-member boy group A2O SOUL and nine-member girl group A2O LITE at KINTEX in Goyang on October 12. The groups are scheduled to release their first songs on October 13, as Lee returns to domestic music production after a three-year non-compete agreement expired.
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SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man introduced two new A2O Entertainment groups at a debut showcase at KINTEX in Goyang on October 12. The boy group A2O SOUL has 15 members, while the girl group A2O LITE has nine. Lee, 74, presented the groups and his company's approach to music and technology as he returned to the domestic K-pop market, Yonhap reported. [ 3 ]
A2O SOUL's SUPERSTAR, a pre-release track from its debut album, and A2O LITE's debut digital single NEON are scheduled for release at 6 p.m. on October 13, according to Hankook Ilbo. The company described SUPERSTAR as a reinterpretation of 1980s synth-pop and NEON as a song in a genre it calls Zalpha Pop. Both groups performed their songs at the showcase, which also included mixed-gender performances involving some members. [ 5 , 10 ]
The groups operate within a shared fictional world, and their members can take part in solo activities, units and projects rather than being limited to fixed team combinations. Lee also introduced 4D Gaussian Splatting, a filming technique that records performances with multiple cameras and reconstructs them in three-dimensional space. According to his explanation reported by Yonhap, viewers can revisit performances from different angles. He said new filming methods had been applied to both groups' music videos and that further immersive experiences would be introduced. [ 3 , 5 ]
Lee sold his SM Entertainment shares to HYBE in February 2023 and agreed not to produce records domestically for three years. The agreement expired in February 2026, Yonhap reported. During that period, he founded A2O and focused on overseas activities, including introducing the girl group A2O MAY. At the showcase, Lee said music remained the essential starting point for K-pop groups, with differences in songs carrying through to dance, videos and performances. [ 3 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The launch marks Lee's return to the domestic K-pop market after focusing A2O's activities overseas. A2O plans to combine group, solo and unit activities with filming technology and new fan communication formats.
Key facts
- Lee introduced A2O SOUL and A2O LITE at KINTEX in Goyang on October 12. [ 3 , 5 ]
- A2O SOUL has 15 members and A2O LITE has nine. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- A2O SOUL's pre-release track SUPERSTAR and A2O LITE's debut digital single NEON are scheduled for October 13 at 6 p.m. [ 5 , 13 ]
- Lee's three-year domestic non-compete agreement, signed when he sold his SM shares to HYBE in February 2023, expired in February 2026. [ 3 , 13 ]
- A2O's artist system allows members to participate in units, solo activities and projects alongside their groups. [ 5 , 10 , 13 ]
- Lee said the groups' music videos used a new filming method and introduced 4D Gaussian Splatting technology. [ 3 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee unveiled the 15-member A2O SOUL and nine-member A2O LITE in Goyang on October 12. [ 3 , 5 , 13 ]
- The groups' first releases are scheduled for 6 p.m. on October 13. [ 5 , 13 ]
- Lee's domestic non-compete agreement expired in February 2026. [ 3 , 13 ]
- A2O plans flexible combinations of group, unit and solo activities. [ 5 , 10 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- Lee said a video conversation feature would be released around the end of October. Yonhap reports this as a future plan rather than a completed launch.
- The supplied reports do not describe audience reception after the songs' scheduled release. The documents cover the showcase and planned releases, rather than results after release.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On October 12, the groups' debut showcase took place at KINTEX in Goyang, CBS NoCut News reported. [ 8 , 10 ]
- On October 12, Yonhap reported Lee's return and presentation of the two groups and filming technology. [ 3 ]
- On October 13, SUPERSTAR and NEON are scheduled for release, according to Hankook Ilbo and Asia Economy. [ 5 , 13 ]