Latest news with #LeeSooMan:TheKingofK-Pop
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Lee Soo Man slammed for using SHINee Jonghyun's funeral footage in documentary: ‘Really hope his family sues them'
An upcoming documentary about SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man is already facing major criticism — and it hasn't even been released yet! Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop, set to premiere on OTT on May 13, has sparked outrage online after the release of its trailer, which includes a clip from SHINee member Kim Jong-hyun's (Jonghyun) funeral. Billed as a deep dive into Lee Soo Man's influence on the global K-pop phenomenon, the documentary sets out to chart the rise of SM Entertainment and its founder's role in shaping the idol industry. The trailer featured interviews with various artists and insiders from the K-pop world who worked closely with SM Entertainment, painting a portrait of Lee as both a pioneer and a controversial figure. While the trailer touches on Lee's achievements, it also attempts to address criticism around the high-pressure culture of K-pop idols, referring to how Western media has often cast a critical eye on South Korean entertainment systems. The backlash began almost immediately after viewers noticed the inclusion of footage from SHINee's Jonghyun's funeral — a deeply emotional and private moment for fans and those who loved him. Jonghyun, who died by suicide in 2017 after publicly discussing his struggles with mental health and the overwhelming pressure of idol life, remains a deeply respected and beloved figure within and beyond the K-pop community. Therefore, for many, using this moment in a documentary about Lee Soo Man feels not only tone-deaf but exploitative. Fans and critics alike have accused the filmmakers of leveraging a painful tragedy to build sympathy for someone who had often been criticised for his role in shaping the very system that many say contributed to Jonghyun's mental health struggles. On social media, fans called the choice 'disrespectful,' and 'dehumanising'. Some also questioned how Jonghyun's death, which symbolised the very emotional cost of the K-pop machine, could be used in a film that largely centres Lee Soo Man's legacy without directly addressing that cost from the perspective of those who lived it. Calls for a revision or removal of the footage continue to mount, with fans demanding more sensitivity and accountability when representing such a tragic moment. As of now, the documentary's production team has not responded to the growing criticism.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Slave contracts, plastic surgeries, and more — Fans call for boycott of 'Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop' documentary
Shocking one and all, Prime Video released the trailer of their upcoming documentary titled, Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop, produced by This Machine. At its core is Lee Soo Man, the founder of the K-pop agency SM Entertainment, whose vision and influence helped lay the foundation for the global K-pop wave. The documentary charts Lee's decades-long journey: from building an entertainment giant to launching some of the biggest idol groups in K-pop history namely EXO, aespa, Red Velvet and more. But it doesn't stop at the glossy surface — the film also explores the highs, the lows, and the power struggles within the company. The man who defined an era. Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop premieres May 13. Fans call for boycott Using rare footage and behind-the-scenes clips, The King of K-Pop is said to offer an unfiltered look at the intense world of idol training, choreography, and music video production. However, many K-pop fans remain unimpressed, pointing out that SM Entertainment has long been mired in controversies — from contractual disputes with artists and tax evasion to allegedly pressuring idols into plastic surgery to meet Korean beauty standards. Many took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to call for a boycott of the documentary, claiming that several of their favorite idols suffered under the agency's control. One said, "Imagine calling this tax evading, plastic surgery pushing, blood obsessed, minor abusing, law manipulating slimeball the king of anything ." imagine calling this tax evading, plastic surgery pushing, blood obsessed, minor abusing, law manipulating slimeball bastard the king of anything. Another said, "The king of K-pop whose an actual wanted criminal???? Prime have some ethics on which documentaries you'll put out! This person is a sham " The king of K-pop whose an actual wanted criminal???? Prime have some ethics on which documentaries you'll put out! This person is a sham! One wrote, "I hope Jonghyun's family sues whoever directed this bullshit." I hope jonghyun's family fucking sues whoever directed this bullshit Another wrote, "We ask that you not support this documentary due to the lack of respect shown by the filmmakers in using photos of Jonghyun's funeral alongside the phrase 'the dark side of K-pop.' Reducing Jonghyun to that phrase and using such sensitive images is truly disrespectful." ⚠️We ask that you not support this documentary due to the lack of respect shown by the filmmakers in using photos of Jonghyun's funeral alongside the phrase "the dark side of K-pop."⚠️Reducing Jonghyun to that phrase and using such sensitive images is really disrespectful. One added, "Oh right, the man behind slave contracts, whose agency has faced multiple lawsuits, who blacklisted anyone who dared to fight for their rights, and whose agency has repeatedly abused its Chinese idols for decades." Oh right, the man who's behind slave contracts, whose agency has faced multiple lawsuits, that has blacklisted anyone who has dared to fight for their rights, and the same man whose agency has repeatedly abused its Chinese idols for decades Another stated, "Reducing Jonghyun—his art, his life—to a mere footnote in some twisted narrative about 'K-pop's dark side' to make LSM look better is disgusting. It's vile. Using videos from his funeral to serve that agenda? That's not just insensitive, it's exploitative and absolutely sickening." Reducing Jonghyun, his art, his life to a mere footnote in some twisted narrative about 'kpops dark side' to make LSM look better is disgusting. Its vile. Using videos from his funeral to serve that agenda? Thats not just insensitive, its exploitative and absolutely sickening More about Lee Soo Man and SM Entertainment Lee Soo Man was officially ousted from his position at SM Entertainment through a gradual process that began in October 2022. As one of the most influential agencies in K-pop, SM Entertainment launched and managed top acts such as EXO, aespa, Red Velvet, NCT, Girls' Generation, Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, SHINee, RIIZE, Lucas, Naevis, and Hearts2Hearts. The documentary is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on May 13. It will also feature interviews with notable artists like EXO's Suho, NCT 127's Taeyong, and members of aespa, who reflect on their personal journeys in the industry. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lee Soo Man faces backlash from public for showing clips from SHINee Jong Hyun's funeral in new documentary
Fans of SHINee have been less than enthusiastic after watching the new trailer for the show 'Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop'. The documentary series features a controversial clip that has sparked major debates online and has been heavily criticised. The documentary is on the life of Lee Soo Man , founder of one of the biggest media agencies in the Korean entertainment industry. About the documentary The documentary, which is going to be released on a popular online streaming platform on May 13, is going to be about Lee Soo Man's journey and how he became the founder of one of the biggest and most successful entertainment agencies in the market. He put a whole country on the map. Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop coming May 13. — Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) April 29, 2025 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Breaks His Silence: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo A trailer was released, which showed that there were testimonials and clips from artists that the businessman has worked with over the past years of his career. It also takes a jab at exploring the more serious issues and controversies that are part of the Korean music industry. Why fans are angry and the public is criticising the documentary Rather than having any particular issue with the documentary itself, fans were enraged, and the public also criticised it, as the documentary contained a controversial clip. It shares a clip from SHINee member Kim Jong Hyun's funeral footage, which has sparked major debate online. The idol passed away in December 2017 due to suicide after fighting a long battle with depression. Public reactions to the clip Many fans and the general public as well took to online social media platforms to express their disdain and criticise the filmmaker of the documentary. In turn, they also criticised Lee Soo Man for approving the clip to be shown in the documentary series. Many labelled the action as insensitive since the clip was shown during a completely unrelated voiceover that was happening. Many criticised the creator of the show, saying that this was reducing Jong Hyun's legacy to a visual cue in the documentary. As of right now, neither Lee Soo Man nor the online streaming platform where the documentary will be released has shared any statement about the matter. No comments have been made officially in response to the major backlash they have faced.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ahead of Lee Soo Man: The King of K-pop's release, meet the mastermind who rewrote Korea's pop culture playbook
As the documentary Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop drops on May 13, what better time to rewind the tape and revisit the wild, world-shaping journey of the man who invented the K-pop playbook? Lee Soo Man, the mastermind behind SM Entertainment, isn't just some other man in a suit; he's the guy people call the 'president of culture' for a reason. He transformed from a charismatic radio DJ to a visionary global pop architect, crafting not just an empire but a cultural phenomenon that K-pop is known to be today. Before the boardroom, Lee Soo Man was in the boy band Long before he became one of the most powerful names in the industry, Lee Soo Man started out as a performer. He made his debut in 1971 as a singer and later joined the band April and May in 1972. Although he had to step away due to health issues, his early career helped him build a reputation as a clean-cut, talented figure, especially at a time when celebrity scandals were grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons. Notably, he was one of the few not involved in the 1975 celebrity weed scandal that rocked Korea's entertainment world. Radio, TV, indie bands—he did it all He kept busy throughout the 1970s, performing with the indie band Sand Pebbles and hosting radio and TV shows. He also performed as part of a trio with Lee Moon Sae and Yoo Yeol, called Masamtrio. At the same time, Lee was academically driven, having studied engineering at Seoul National University, one of Korea's most prestigious schools. But the real turning point came in the early 1980s. Leaving Korea's entertainment industry, Lee left for the United States to pursue a master's degree in computer engineering at California State University, Northridge. While abroad, he witnessed the rise of global megastars like Michael Jackson and saw how MTV reshaped pop culture. That experience planted a seed as Lee returned to Korea in 1985 with a bold vision to build a pop industry capable of creating Korean superstars who could one day take the world stage. When SM Entertainment was born That vision came to life when he founded SM Studio in 1989, using years of savings and firsthand experience in media. The studio's first signed act was Hyun Jin Young, and from there, the company grew rapidly. By 1995, SM Studio had rebranded as SM Entertainment, and the rest, as they say, is history. SM Entertainment became a powerhouse, producing some of the biggest names in K-pop: H.O.T., BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, Aespa, and more. Lee's approach—combining rigorous training systems, global production standards, and cutting-edge performance—set the blueprint that nearly every major K-pop agency would later follow. In 1997, he also founded the production company Like Planning to handle music production and maintain creative control over the SM sound. Even after stepping down from the SM board in 2010, Lee continued to play a major role in artist development and overall strategy until recent years. Lee Soo Man's career was not without controversy In 2009, three members of the first-generation boy band TVXQ took SM Entertainment to court, arguing that their 13-year contract—dubbed a 'slave contract' by critics—was way too long and unfairly restrictive and left them with crumbs from the profits they helped generate. By 2010, the fallout had real consequences as South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) stepped in and laid down a new rule, limiting entertainment contracts to a maximum of seven years. Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop trailer is out now! Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop will be released globally on Prime Video on May 13. The film comes from production company This Machine and is directed by Ting Poo, known for co-directing the acclaimed 2021 Prime Video documentary Val about actor Val Kilmer. The trailer offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his decades-long reign in the industry. It features rare footage of him mentoring SM Entertainment's biggest acts and shaping their rise, hands-on, meticulous, and always thinking ten steps ahead. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
