Lee Soo Man’s Recent Appearance Sparks Rumors About His Return To The Idol Industry

SM Entertainment’s founder Lee Soo Man’s recent whereabouts have reignited speculations about his return to the music industry.

In some recently surfaced pictures, Lee Soo Man was spotted in China alongside producer Yoo Young Jin, and a group of young male teenagers. It is being speculated that the teenagers are idol trainees, selected by the SME founder for his new project.

When Lee Soo Man sold his stake in SME to HYBE Labels, he signed a non-compete agreement that prevents him from working in the Korean entertainment industry as a competitor of HYBE until 2026. However, it is unclear whether this clause applies to overseas industries.

Back in May, Lee Soo Man was revealed to have filed for a business trademark under the name of A20 Entertainment, which is the reason behind this new speculation that he is working with male idol trainees to potentially launch a new group.

Meanwhile, in May, Lee Soo Man made his first appearance since leaving SM Entertainment in 2023 at the 2024 CISAC General Assembly in Seoul. You can read more about it here.