Lee Soo-man Introduces New Idol Trainees Highlighting His Unmatched Eye for Visuals

On October 25, the newly trademarked entity A2O Entertainment unveiled its trainees through an official announcement on its YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV4__dCH1RM

A2O Rookies ’Zal-Dance Compilation V1‘ Official Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV4__dCH1RM)

The trainees, dubbed as “rookies,” encompass both male and female group members, continuing the legacy of the “Rookies” system popularized by Lee Soo-man at SM Entertainment.

Significantly, Lee Soo-man introduced the concept of Zalpha-Pop, aimed at engaging both the “Z” and “Alpha” generations, which has garnered notable interest.

The emergence of group names like “Rookies LTB” and “Rookies HTG” indicates the potential for multiple teams to debut under the A2O Entertainment banner.

Additionally, the name tags of the trainees, including “MA XITONG,” “LIN YUSHAN,” and “CHEN JIAYI,” suggest a strong presence of Chinese trainees, possibly shared first due to competitive restrictions in Korea.

The video concludes with the statement “Produced by Lee Soo-man,” heightening anticipation. Renowned for establishing the K-pop framework and paving the path for its global presence, Lee Soo-man’s latest idol trainees are receiving attention for their impressive looks, further solidifying his status as a keen talent scout.

This launch marks Lee Soo-man’s return to producing after a hiatus of 1 year and 7 months, following SM’s acquisition dispute in March of the previous year. His non-compete agreement in Korean productions is expected to conclude in approximately 1 year and 4 months.

SM’s Lee Soo-man and Sunny Spotted with Yoo Young-jin, Sparking Collaboration Hopes

Earlier this year, Lee Soo-man trademarked “A2O Entertainment” through his personal venture Blooming Grace and announced auditions for idol trainees utilizing Japanese channels. In June, he was seen with promising young male trainees in China, and on October 8, he was spotted alongside his niece, Sunny from Girls’ Generation, and former SM producer Yoo Young-jin.

Source: Nate