Ahead of Lee Soo Man: The King of K-pop's release, meet the mastermind who rewrote Korea's pop culture playbook

As the documentary Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop drops on May 13, what better time to rewind the tape and revisit the wild, world-shaping journey of the man who invented the K-pop playbook? Lee Soo Man, the mastermind behind SM Entertainment, isn¡¯t just some other man in a suit; he¡¯s the guy people call the ¡°president of culture¡± for a reason. He transformed from a charismatic radio DJ to a visionary global pop architect, crafting not just an empire but a cultural phenomenon that K-pop is known to be today.

Before the boardroom, Lee Soo Man was in the boy band

Credit: X

Long before he became one of the most powerful names in the industry, Lee Soo Man started out as a performer. He made his debut in 1971 as a singer and later joined the band April and May in 1972. Although he had to step away due to health issues, his early career helped him build a reputation as a clean-cut, talented figure, especially at a time when celebrity scandals were grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons. Notably, he was one of the few not involved in the 1975 celebrity weed scandal that rocked Korea¡¯s entertainment world.

Radio, TV, indie bands¡ªhe did it all

He kept busy throughout the 1970s, performing with the indie band Sand Pebbles and hosting radio and TV shows. He also performed as part of a trio with Lee Moon Sae and Yoo Yeol, called Masamtrio. At the same time, Lee was academically driven, having studied engineering at Seoul National University, one of Korea¡¯s most prestigious schools.

But the real turning point came in the early 1980s. Leaving Korea's entertainment industry, Lee left for the United States to pursue a master¡¯s degree in computer engineering at California State University, Northridge. While abroad, he witnessed the rise of global megastars like Michael Jackson and saw how MTV reshaped pop culture. That experience planted a seed as Lee returned to Korea in 1985 with a bold vision to build a pop industry capable of creating Korean superstars who could one day take the world stage.

When SM Entertainment was born

That vision came to life when he founded SM Studio in 1989, using years of savings and firsthand experience in media. The studio¡¯s first signed act was Hyun Jin Young, and from there, the company grew rapidly. By 1995, SM Studio had rebranded as SM Entertainment, and the rest, as they say, is history.

SM Entertainment became a powerhouse, producing some of the biggest names in K-pop: H.O.T., BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls¡¯ Generation, SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, Aespa, and more. Lee¡¯s approach¡ªcombining rigorous training systems, global production standards, and cutting-edge performance¡ªset the blueprint that nearly every major K-pop agency would later follow.

In 1997, he also founded the production company Like Planning to handle music production and maintain creative control over the SM sound. Even after stepping down from the SM board in 2010, Lee continued to play a major role in artist development and overall strategy until recent years.

Lee Soo Man's career was not without controversy

In 2009, three members of the first-generation boy band TVXQ took SM Entertainment to court, arguing that their 13-year contract¡ªdubbed a ¡°slave contract¡± by critics¡ªwas way too long and unfairly restrictive and left them with crumbs from the profits they helped generate.

By 2010, the fallout had real consequences as South Korea¡¯s Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) stepped in and laid down a new rule, limiting entertainment contracts to a maximum of seven years.

Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop trailer is out now!

Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop will be released globally on Prime Video on May 13. The film comes from production company This Machine and is directed by Ting Poo, known for co-directing the acclaimed 2021 Prime Video documentary Val about actor Val Kilmer.

The trailer offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his decades-long reign in the industry. It features rare footage of him mentoring SM Entertainment¡¯s biggest acts and shaping their rise, hands-on, meticulous, and always thinking ten steps ahead.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.