Latest news with #LeeSooMan
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Soloist BoA talks about the father-daughter bond with Lee Soo Man; Shares they argued till 4 am – find out what happened!
K-pop solo artist BoA, who is well known within the industry, recently shared an anecdote from when she was younger. The idol shared how she and Lee Soo Man, the founder of her management agency, are close and have a father-daughter-like relationship. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She also delved into some funny stories about the businessman as well. BoA shares how she and Lee Soo Man argued for hours BoA, while appearing as a guest on one of the most popular variety shows, 'Knowing Bros', talked about her hilarious encounters with the founder of her management agency, Lee Soo Man. She shared how when she was invited to appear on the show again, she became a little hesitant and even argued with Soo Man well into the early hours of the next day. She shared with the hosts of the show how the founder had pointed out that she should consider her decision, as the last time she appeared on the show, she was 'boring', shocking the hosts. She shared, 'When I was offered the appearance this time, I had a conversation with Teacher Lee Sooman. He said, 'You were boring the last time you went on. If you're going on a show like that, you should at least prepare an impression or a dance''. Fellow labelmate Heechul adds to the story Fellow labelmate Heechul, who has been a part of the popular K-pop group Super Junior, added on to the hilarious story. He shared how, during the argument, BoA kept saying that she's not going, and Lee Soo Man asked her why she was sulking. He shared that this banter went on for hours, while music producer Yoo Young Jin, who got caught in the middle of it, could just watch and sip his drink. He shared that, 'When BoA got annoyed and said, 'I'm not going on the show!' Lee Soo-man responded, 'Why are you sulking again?' And then BoA shot back, 'I said I'm not going!' They kept going at it.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop' Director and Subject Talk New Prime Video Documentary
One of Prime Video's latest documentaries, Lee Soo Man: King of K-pop, follows the career of Korean music executive Lee Soo Man, founder of SM Entertainment. Spanning several years, the documentary chronicles some of his time at the company he built, featuring artists from the labels, leading to his eventual not-so-friendly exit from SM and the founding of his new A2O Entertainment. More from The Hollywood Reporter Jimmy Buffett's $275 Million Estate Sparks Sprawling Margaritaville Legal Battle Jessie J Reveals Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis Aging CEOs, Ambitious Nepo Babies and a Tech Revolution: Succession in the Music Biz Ahead of the film's premiere last month, Lee and an assortment of guests, including his new company's girl group A2O May, and former and current SM Entertainment talent such as SHINee's Taemin, Super Junior's Choi Siwon and Girls Generation's Tiffany, Sunny and Hyoyeon gathered to screen the film. Lee told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the screening that he was approached and met the film's director, Ting Poo, and thought he could do the project. 'I'm so worried right now to see the film,' he said, standing amongst the gathered artists for a photo at the screening's red carpet. 'Maybe they'll be scared,' Lee said when asked how he thought people would react. He added he wasn't sure and that he had to see the film. A2O May, the first Chinese girl group from Lee's new endeavor, had just days before the screening performed at Wango Tango. The group said they were both 'nervous' and 'excited' about the experience to play at the U.S. festival. The group, along with young trainees from A2O, performed at the screening following the film. The five-member group also gushed about getting to meet members of K-pop group Girls Generation, saying they listened to the group growing up and meeting them was 'magical.' Poo, director of Val Kilmer documentary Val, spoke with THR about the film, including about the backlash to the film's decision to include video from the funeral of late SHINee member Jonghyun in the trailer. The director, who explained she was attracted to the story because she didn't know much about the world of K-pop prior to taking on the film, said she can 'understand why people were triggered by that footage' when asked about the trailer. 'It was a tragedy for the whole community. My intention of using [the footage] in the trailer was not anything salacious or to cause any harm, but merely to point out that the film tackles not just the good parts, but also the more difficult topics,' Poo said. 'I hope that when people see the actual film, they'll see that we dealt with it with the gravity and seriousness that it deserves.'Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Malay Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Hybe sells entire SM Entertainment stake in RM618m deal, making China's Tencent second-largest shareholder
SEOUL, May 28 — K-pop agency HYBE will sell its entire 9.38 per cent stake in SM Entertainment to China's Tencent for 200 billion won (RM618 million). In a regulatory filing yesterday, HYBE said it will offload 2,212,237 shares at 110,000 won each. That price is lower than SM Entertainment's closing share price of 129,900 won on the Korea Exchange the same day, Korea JoongAng Daily reported. 'We divested noncore assets as part of a choice and concentration strategy,' HYBE said in the filing. 'Secured funds will be used to secure future growth engines,' it added. The block trade is scheduled for completion after the market closes on Friday. HYBE acquired the stake in 2023 during a high-profile battle to gain management control of SM Entertainment. It initially bought 14.8 per cent of SM Entertainment from founder Lee Soo-man, before selling 8.62 per cent to Kakao in March 2023 and another 3 per cent later that year. Tencent will become SM Entertainment's second largest shareholder after the deal, following Kakao and Kakao Entertainment, which hold a combined 41.5 per cent stake. 'We will strengthen our partnership with Tencent Music Entertainment,' SM Entertainment said. SM Entertainment manages major K-pop acts including NCT, aespa and WayV, a group focused on the China market.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HYBE Sells Remaining Stake in K-Pop Rival SM Entertainment for $177 Million
HYBE has sold its remaining 9.38% stake in rival SM Entertainment to Tencent Music Entertainment for approximately $177 million, the company revealed in regulatory filing. The SM agency is home to such groups as EXO, Aespa (pictured above) and NCT 127; Tencent Music is a subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Tencent. The deal will see 2.21 million shares transferred at 110,000 Korean won per share and is set to close on May 30, according to the filing. HYBE initially acquired a 14.8% stake in SM from founder Lee Soo Man, and later upped its holding to 15.78% through an unsuccessful takeover bid, being topped by Kakao and its subsidiary Kakao Entertainment, which now holds slightly over 40%. Tencent is now the second-largest shareholder in SM. More from Variety HYBE Latin Launches 'Medellín Music Lab' in Colombia: 'Ready to Make History' (EXCLUSIVE) K-Pop Group NewJeans to Continue Label Battle Despite Fresh Court Setback Alan Chikin Chow Launches Casting Call for Co-Ed Pop Group He's Forming With HYBE America That Will Be Featured in a Scripted Series on YouTube (EXCLUSIVE) According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, cited in Music Business Worldwide, HYBE stated that I has 'divested non-core assets as part of a choice and concentration strategy,' adding that the 'Secured funds will be used to secure future growth engines.' It noted that SM says that the company plans to 'work more closely with Tencent Music' following the share sale. MBW notes that China-based Tencent Music's investment in SM, a South Korean music company, coincides with reports that China will be lifting its ban on South Korean cultural and entertainment content imports. That ban was imposed by China in 2017 in response to the deployment of a U.S. missile system in South Korea. With a population of more than 1.4 billion people, China would seem ripe for Korean entertainment. Tencent Holdings also owns stakes in other K-pop operations, including Kakoa (a 4.61% stake) labels and YG Entertainment. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Pink Villa
27-05-2025
- Business
- Pink Villa
HYBE decides to sell 243 billion KRW stake in SM Entertainment to THIS Chinese company
In a surprising twist that's sending waves through the K-pop world, HYBE, the powerhouse behind BTS, SEVENTEEN, and more, has decided to sell all of its shares in SM Entertainment, home to groups like EXO, NCT, Red Velvet, and aespa. And who's buying? None other than Tencent Music, a major Chinese entertainment player, is marking a big shift in who holds power in K-pop's business side. On May 27, according to a filing with the Financial Supervisory Service, HYBE's deal is valued at around 243 billion KRW (roughly USD 178 million), involving 2.2 million shares, which represents 9.66 per cent of SM's total stock. The shares will be sold at 110,000 KRW each, which is about 15 per cent lower than SM's current market price. After the transaction is completed on May 30 through a block deal after market close, Tencent will become SM's second-largest shareholder, right after Kakao. HYBE Owned Part of SM? Yes. In early 2023, HYBE jumped into the battle to gain control of SM Entertainment. HYBE had acquired a 14.8 per cent stake from SM's founder, Lee Soo Man, during a fierce fight with Kakao over SM's future. But after some back-and-forth, Kakao won the battle for control. HYBE backed off and began offloading its shares, first selling part to Kakao and now selling the rest to Tencent. Why Is HYBE Selling Shares Now? HYBE reveals this is part of 'reorganizing non-core assets,' meaning SM is no longer part of its long-term strategy. Instead, HYBE wants to focus on future growth, possibly new talent, technology, or global expansion, especially with BTS members currently on military hiatus. The timing of the sale also makes sense. SM Entertainment's stock has been going up, rising by about 20 per cent in the past month. Why? People are getting hopeful that China might start allowing more Korean entertainment again, like K-pop concerts and dramas. So for HYBE, this was a good moment to sell, while the stock price was still high and before things could change again. What Does This Mean for K-pop? This move shakes up the power balance in K-pop. For HYBE, it's a clean break from SM — a former rival in the same market. Now, HYBE can fully focus on its artists, platforms like Weverse, and global plans, especially with the return of BTS on the horizon starting in 2025.
