After several years away from the domestic market, legendary K-pop producer Lee Soo Man is reportedly preparing for a major return. His comeback could potentially set the stage for a new power struggle in the K-pop industry involving both SM Entertainment and creative director Min Hee Jin.
Industry insiders believe this development may signal the beginning of a new era of competition within the Korean music scene.
Lee Soo Man’s non-compete agreement has officially expired, allowing him to re-enter the South Korean market in the first half of 2026. The producer, widely regarded as the architect of the modern idol training system, had stepped back from the local industry for about three years.
During that time, Lee Soo Man did not remain inactive. He established the entertainment company A2O Entertainment in Singapore and expanded its operations into major markets including the United States, China, and Japan.
One of the early projects under his new company was the global girl group A2O MAY, which managed to reach No. 8 on the Billboard Emerging Artists ranking—demonstrating that Lee Soo Man still carries considerable influence in the global music industry.
For his upcoming projects in Korea, Lee Soo Man is reportedly reuniting with long-time collaborators. Among them is producer Yoo Young Jin, often described as the “architect” behind the signature SM Performance sound that defined many hits from SM artists for decades.
There are also reports that Sunny—Lee Soo Man’s niece and a member of Girls’ Generation—may shift toward a production role and participate in the upcoming project.
Lee Soo Man’s return could place him in direct competition with two major forces. One is SM Entertainment itself, the company he founded and helped build into one of K-pop’s most influential labels. The other is Min Hee Jin, who previously served as a creative director at SM before launching her own ventures.
Min Hee Jin is currently leading OK Records and has begun global trainee auditions for a new project. According to her team, the concept aims to highlight the “natural charm of young male artists and their musical stories,” moving away from the traditional idol training formulas often used in the industry.
Meanwhile, SM Entertainment is also preparing for the debut of a new trainee group known as SMTR25. The group has already attracted attention from international fans through performances celebrating SM’s 30th anniversary and appearances on the Mnet program Reply High School.
Industry experts believe the upcoming rivalry is not simply about which company will produce the most popular idols. Instead, it represents a clash of creative philosophies shaping the future of K-pop.
Lee Soo Man is seen as the representative of the traditional large-scale idol production system—now expanded with a more global perspective. Min Hee Jin, by contrast, is known for a more artistic and personalized creative direction. SM Entertainment, with decades of experience, continues to balance innovation with the successful formula that made it one of K-pop’s biggest powerhouses.
With additional projects reportedly being prepared by major companies like YG Entertainment and ADOR, the K-pop industry is expected to become even more competitive in the coming years.
According to one industry source, the most intriguing aspect of this emerging rivalry is that all three sides share roots in the same creative ecosystem. Yet each is now pursuing a very different vision—one that could ultimately determine who will lead the next generation of K-pop.
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