Lee Soo-man launches boy group and girl group simultaneously under A2O

Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment and key producer and visionary leader of A2O Entertainment, is set to debut a boy group and a girl group at the same time.

A2O Entertainment announced Thursday that it is launching its first debut project in South Korea with boy group A2O SOUL and girl group A2O LITE, according to CBS Nocut News. The company began debut promotions through its official social media channels the same day.

The two groups will make their first stage appearance Monday at a debut show titled "WELCOME TO SOULITE From A2O SOUL A2O LITE A2O." The show will be broadcast worldwide on major content platforms including M2 and Mnet Plus.

The debut show will unveil performances by both A2O SOUL and A2O LITE, as well as the shared fictional universe connecting the two groups. Lee led the project as A2O's key producer.

Producer Yoo Young-jin, a longtime hit-maker who worked closely with Lee at SM, handled the music and performances, giving each group a distinct identity.

Lee sold his 14.8 percent stake in SM to Hybe in February 2023, during a battle between Hybe and Kakao for control of the company.

Under a non-compete clause in his contract with Hybe at the time, Lee was restricted from producing activities in South Korea for three years from the date of the agreement, limiting him to work overseas only. That clause expired at the end of February this year.