Ends HYBE Non-Compete Agreement, Launches A20 Entertainment's Debut Group
Lee Soo-man, who founded SM Entertainment in 1995 and is regarded as the "K-pop patriarch" for pioneering Korean pop music, is returning to the domestic entertainment industry. His movements toward a domestic comeback have been detected ahead of the expiration of the "non-compete" period agreed upon with HYBE.
According to industry sources on the 4th, A20 Entertainment, established by producer Lee Soo-man in October last year, will launch a rookie boy group during the first half of this year, beginning its full-scale offensive in the domestic market.
A20 Entertainment registered with the aim of engaging in music and other audio publication businesses, as well as management, similar to general entertainment agencies. Recently, it has also secured a domestic foothold by establishing its headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The representative listed is internal director Lee Jin-kyu. Director Lee Jin-kyu is the nephew of producer Lee Soo-man and the elder brother of Girls' Generation member Sunny, Lee Soon-kyu.
Producer Lee Soo-man entered into a "non-compete" agreement not to produce albums domestically for three years when he sold his SM shares to HYBE, led by Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, in February 2023. Consequently, the idol group "A20 MAY," first introduced by A20 Entertainment, has been active primarily in the Chinese and American markets.
The industry’s attention is focused on this as it is the first boy group that producer Lee Soo-man has introduced since NCT. Producer Yoo Young-jin, who has collaborated with him for a long time, and Girls’ Generation’s Sunny have joined A20 Entertainment to lend their support.
At the Asian Hall of Fame Awards ceremony late last year, producer Lee Soo-man expressed his determination to remain active, stating, "Music is a universal language that connects us all and my lifelong language that bridges strangers."
Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2026/02/04/OVC7VPYQGVGGHO6O62PISMOLNE/
Lee Soo-man, who founded SM Entertainment in 1995 and is regarded as the "K-pop patriarch" for pioneering Korean pop music, is returning to the domestic entertainment industry. His movements toward a domestic comeback have been detected ahead of the expiration of the "non-compete" period agreed upon with HYBE.
According to industry sources on the 4th, A20 Entertainment, established by producer Lee Soo-man in October last year, will launch a rookie boy group during the first half of this year, beginning its full-scale offensive in the domestic market.
A20 Entertainment registered with the aim of engaging in music and other audio publication businesses, as well as management, similar to general entertainment agencies. Recently, it has also secured a domestic foothold by establishing its headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The representative listed is internal director Lee Jin-kyu. Director Lee Jin-kyu is the nephew of producer Lee Soo-man and the elder brother of Girls' Generation member Sunny, Lee Soon-kyu.
Producer Lee Soo-man entered into a "non-compete" agreement not to produce albums domestically for three years when he sold his SM shares to HYBE, led by Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, in February 2023. Consequently, the idol group "A20 MAY," first introduced by A20 Entertainment, has been active primarily in the Chinese and American markets.
The industry’s attention is focused on this as it is the first boy group that producer Lee Soo-man has introduced since NCT. Producer Yoo Young-jin, who has collaborated with him for a long time, and Girls’ Generation’s Sunny have joined A20 Entertainment to lend their support.
At the Asian Hall of Fame Awards ceremony late last year, producer Lee Soo-man expressed his determination to remain active, stating, "Music is a universal language that connects us all and my lifelong language that bridges strangers."
Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2026/02/04/OVC7VPYQGVGGHO6O62PISMOLNE/
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