Lee Soo Man, the former chief producer and founder of SM Entertainment, was spotted in Los Angeles, California, on May 12 (local time) attending the screening of his documentary “Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop.”

The event, held in Hollywood, drew several K-pop stars who debuted under SM and have long-standing ties with Lee. Among the attendees were Super Junior’s Choi Siwon, SHINee’s Taemin, and Girls’ Generation members Sunny, Hyoyeon, and Tiffany.

Photos released via Getty Images show Lee Soo Man holding hands with Taemin and Choi Siwon, smiling warmly like a proud father.

In February 2023, Lee sold his 14.8% stake in SM Entertainment to HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk following a high-profile management dispute with SM’s executive team. In March 2023, HYBE announced it would withdraw from the acquisition process, citing internal and external factors, effectively ending the power struggle over SM’s management.

Since then, Lee has shifted his focus overseas, dedicating his efforts to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives. In early 2023, he founded a new agency, A2O Entertainment, under his company Blooming Grace, and launched a new girl group called A2O MAY.

Notably, A2O MAY consists entirely of non-Korean members. This move aligns with a non-compete and anti-solicitation clause included in the stock purchase agreement with HYBE, which restricts Lee from engaging in domestic producing activities for three years. However, the clause does not prohibit overseas production, allowing him to continue his work internationally.

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