Amazon Prime Documentary "Soo Man Lee: King of K-Pop"
"The Future Matters... I Don't Look Back in Regret"
A scene from the documentary film "Soo Man Lee: King of K-Pop" released on the 14th. Screenshot from Amazon Prime
"If something illegal had happened, would I be able to sit here and give this interview?"
Soo Man Lee, CEO of Blooming Grace and founder of SM Entertainment who pioneered the K-pop industry, has spoken for the first time about his perspective on the management rights dispute with SM in the recently released Amazon Prime Video documentary "Soo Man Lee: The King of K-Pop" ("The Godfather of K-pop").
The documentary began production in 2022, when Soo Man Lee was still serving as SM's chief producer and largest shareholder. The following February, after a conflict with his nephew, former SM co-CEO Sungsoo Lee, he left the company. Soo Man Lee said, "I've known my nephew since he was four, and we've always gotten along," adding, "What was regrettable and upsetting was that the way things were handled, which felt unfair to me, seemed to destroy all the good memories of the past in an instant." He continued, "If you're holding an apple in your hand, you have to put it down to pick up something else," and added, "It's time for a new choice, and I believe a good opportunity has come."
"The Godfather of K-pop" traces Soo Man Lee's musical career and the formation of the K-pop industry. Debuting as a singer in the 1970s, he went on to plan and launch SM's flagship idol groups such as H.O.T., BoA, TVXQ, EXO, and aespa onto the global stage. The documentary also includes stories such as the "BoA All-in" strategy targeting the Japanese market, and SM's unique "Kwangya" universe. His production method, which combines dance, visuals, and storytelling to expand K-pop into a single content form, is compared to "bibimbap" in his own words.
After leaving SM, he established A2O Entertainment under Blooming Grace and led the debut of the girl group A20. This group launched its activities based in China and is targeting both the Chinese and U.S. markets. The documentary also covers their debut process and the background of the company's founding.
A scene from the documentary film "Soo Man Lee: King of K-Pop" released on the 14th. Screenshot from Amazon Prime
Soo Man Lee's personal life is also given significant attention. He recalled being born in 1952 as the youngest of three brothers and spending a poor childhood. His mother supported the family by giving piano lessons, and he said it was difficult to afford even his high school and college tuition. He began composing songs in his third year of middle school, and revealed that his self-written song "Happiness" (1977) was created when he was 18.
The documentary also reveals his late wife's battle with illness and passing, whom he met while studying in the United States, as well as his current relationship with Juhee Cho, Seoul bureau chief of ABC News. He said, "We met at an overseas golf course and that's how our relationship started," adding, "Unlike my emotional nature, she is calm and helps me a lot."
The documentary also addresses the exclusive contract dispute with TVXQ and the deaths of Jonghyun and Sulli. Soo Man Lee said, "I feel sorry that I could not fulfill my responsibilities," and explained, "Kwangya was a space before entering the promised land."
Forbes, the U.S. business magazine, described the documentary as "a chronicle exploring the legendary legacy of K-pop." However, reviews from major local media outlets such as The New York Times and Variety have not yet been published. While there has been promotion within the platform, it has not generated significant buzz among overseas viewers.
There has also been controversy within fan communities. In particular, the scene featuring footage from the funerals of Jonghyun and Sulli sparked divided opinions, with some criticizing it as "commercial exploitation of emotional moments," while others viewed it as "a responsible confession."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
