Lee Soo Man has officially opened his next chapter in K-pop, unveiling two new idol groups — the 9-member girl group A2O LITE and the 15-member boy group A2O SOUL — at a global debut showcase held on October 12 at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang.
According to Sports Seoul, which covered the event, the showcase marked the first public reveal of both groups. One rookie in particular is already stealing the spotlight: A2O LITE member Aijing, whose visuals are drawing comparisons to BoA. Observers say Lee’s signature eye for talent appears as sharp as ever.
A2O LITE is made up of nine teenage members from Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand, with an average age of 15. The group released its debut digital single “NEON” on October 13 and has officially kicked off promotions.
On stage, Lee declared, “Starting with the song, then the dance, the music video, and the performance — everything should feel different from what exists,” adding, “Today, we open the doors of A2O anew.”
The event carries symbolic weight beyond the debuts. After selling his SM Entertainment shares in February 2023, Lee signed a three-year agreement barring him from album producing in Korea. That non-compete expired this past February, and he has been active mainly overseas since — making the showcase his return to domestic producing.
With both groups now officially out in the open, all eyes are on whether the instinct that delivered BoA, Girls’ Generation, and aespa still delivers.
