Lee Soo-man

Lee Soo-man is a South Korean music executive, record producer, and entrepreneur best known as the founder of SM Entertainment, one of the largest and most influential entertainment companies in South Korea. Born on June 18, 1952, he originally began his career as a singer in the 1970s before shifting to business and production.

He established SM Entertainment in 1995, playing a pivotal role in shaping the modern K-pop industry and launching the careers of major acts like H.O.T., S.E.S., BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, EXO, and NCT. Lee is credited with developing the so-called "K-pop system," a highly structured trainee and production model that combines music, choreography, and visual performance to create global idol groups.

Although he stepped back from day-to-day management in the 2010s, he remained a key shareholder and producer until 2023, when a high-profile corporate battle led to his eventual departure from SM Entertainment's creative and strategic operations. Despite controversies over business practices and royalty structures, Lee is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in Korean pop music's global expansion.