[Kang Il-hong's Today's Entertainment] 'K-Pop Root' Lee Soo-man Returns, Will A2O LITE Succeed?

Trot Brand Power TOP10 Analysis...From Lim Young Woong to Jang Yun JeongWednesday, October 14, Lee Soo-man / RESCENE / Lee Chan-won / BTS / Lim Young Woong[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il-hong] No one can deny that Lee Soo-man, former chief producer of SM Entertainment and a singer-turned-record producer, played a unique role in establishing the global status of K-pop today.However, after selling SM to Kakao and becoming a billionaire, he reportedly felt a bit regretful about stepping away from the entertainment industry and record production, which he considered his greatest source of pride and joy.Lee Soo-man has returned to the K-pop scene with a new girl group. The group is the multinational nine-member girl group, A2O LITE. Since their debut stage, the members' visuals, music, and performances have garnered attention, leading to reactions like "Lee Soo-man's touch is still there" and "As expected, the roots of K-pop are different."However, shortly after their debut, rumors of unpaid wages surfaced regarding the company operated by the family of Chinese member Ai Jing, leading to both anticipation and concern.What kind of group is A2O LITE? A2O LITE is a global girl group composed of nine members from various nationalities, including Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, and the United States. They held their debut showcase on the 12th at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and released their first single 'NEON' on the 13th.The most eye-catching member in this debut was the youngest, Ai Jing, born in 2013. Reactions poured in, comparing her long straight hair, intense gaze, and powerful dance moves to BoA in her early debut days. Some fans also found vibes reminiscent of S.E.S.'s Eugene or Jessica from Girls' Generation in other members.However, the interesting point isn't just their appearance. The debut song 'NEON' is over three minutes long, with sections emphasizing vocals and dance breaks strategically placed to enhance the song's progression.In the current music market, which emphasizes short repetitive sections and short-form challenges, the composition of traditional idol music that fully showcases each member's charm and performance is being received as fresh.Additionally, the involvement of producer Yoo Young-jin, who has participated in SM's musical flow from H.O.T.'s 'Warrior's Descendant' to aespa's 'Next Level,' is also noteworthy. The fact that Lee Soo-man and Yoo Young-jin are working together again makes A2O LITE more than just a rookie group project.During his time at SM, Lee Soo-man was a producer who played a crucial role in the development of the K-pop idol system by introducing artists from various generations, including H.O.T., S.E.S., BoA, TVXQ!, Girls' Generation, EXO, and aespa. After selling his SM shares in 2023, he entered into a three-year non-compete agreement restricting domestic record production. After this period ended, he reappeared on the domestic scene through A2O.This is why A2O LITE is being evaluated as having both the musical grammar of past SM girl groups and a futuristic concept. Lee Soo-man's strengths, such as member discovery, concept design, and the combination of music and performance, are once again attracting public attention. However, an unexpected variable emerged before the debut's momentum could fully take hold.According to Chinese media reports, former employees of an educational company where Ai Jing's mother is the legal representative claimed that wages had been unpaid since 2024. Although an agreement for installment payments was reached after labor arbitration, the company reportedly made payments for about three months before falling into arrears again. A court enforcement case against the company and parents was also reported to be around 3.45 million yuan.In this situation, what is the future outlook for A2O LITE? The positive factors are clear. The strong producer brand of Lee Soo-man, the online buzz generated immediately after debut, the multinational member composition, and the concept emphasizing the musical completeness of traditional K-pop are assets that can attract global market interest.On the other hand, whether the buzz translates into actual fandom and success is a separate issue. Going forward, music consumption, reactions to stage videos, growth of overseas fandom, individual member recognition, and the quality of follow-up songs will be important. Furthermore, if the family-related allegations persist, it could become a burden on the group's image and promotional activities.It is still too early to determine whether Lee Soo-man's return will be the starting point of a new K-pop success story or if it will remain a fleeting buzz. However, the potential and controversy shown by A2O LITE upon their debut are clear. What the public will watch for now is whether this group can be remembered for its music for a long time, beyond its dazzling first impression.A new storm is brewing in the global K-pop market. Girl group RESCENE has risen to the top of the idol group brand reputation rankings for October 2026, surpassing BTS and ATEEZ. /Muse EntertainmentShaking up the K-pop scene...Reaching the top of brand reputation and launching 'PULSE'A new storm is brewing in the global K-pop market. Girl group RESCENE has risen to the top of the idol group brand reputation rankings for October 2026, surpassing BTS and ATEEZ. What is the secret behind RESCENE's rising popularity, fueled by their new song 'Love Attack'?According to data released by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute on the 14th, RESCENE topped the brand reputation analysis, integrating boy groups and girl groups. BTS ranked second, and ATEEZ ranked third.This result is noteworthy as it is based on a comprehensive analysis of various indicators, including consumer participation, media attention, online communication, and community response, beyond just fandom size.Notably, the analysis keywords included 'Love Attack,' member Won Yi's greeting, and photocards. This indicates that not only music content but also the individual charms of the members and the active participation of fans are acting as driving forces behind RESCENE's buzz.Furthermore, the analysis suggests that the individuality of the five members—Won Yi, Rii V, Minami, May, and Xena—combined with the team's sophisticated concept is broadening their connection with fans. RESCENE's next move is also drawing attention.They are set to make a comeback on November 3rd with their fourth mini-album, 'PULSE.' As the album title suggests 'pulse,' they are raising anticipation for the new album by using sounds reminiscent of heartbeats and heart motifs.They plan to continue the comeback excitement by sequentially releasing concept photos, trailers, highlight medleys, and music video teasers.Can the achievement of being ranked No. 1 in brand reputation be translated into the success of their new song? With RESCENE having increased their presence with 'Love Attack,' K-pop fans are keenly focused on whether their fourth mini-album 'PULSE' on November 3rd will lead to another leap forward.Lee Chan-won Ranks 2nd...Attention on the Presence of Kim Yong Bin&Jang Hanbyul&Jang Yun Jeong in the TOP10Let's take a look at the popularity and brand power of popular trot singers and see who is at the center of it all. We will examine the rankings in the trot singer category of the 'K-Brand Index' announced by the Asia Brand Research Institute, along with the special presence of five singers who made it into the top 10.This survey was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2026, analyzing over 1.07 billion pieces of online big data from the top 30 singers with the highest search volume on portal sites.The prestigious first place goes to Lim Young Woong. Lim Young Woong is a representative trot star who goes beyond simply being a good singer, attracting broad interest through music and video content, and fan support. In particular, the music video for 'TtoTto,' featuring their pet dog Siwol, surpassed 5 million views, showcasing their charm of communicating warmly with the public even in their daily lives off-stage.Second place is Lee Chan-won. Lee Chan-won's strengths lie in their friendly image and excellent communication skills. They are creating connections with a wide audience through singing, broadcasting, and various entertainment activities. Their consistent presence at the forefront, alongside Lim Young Woong, confirms their sustained interest and solid public foundation.Following them are Seong Ri (3rd), PARK JI HYUN (4th), Young Tak (5th), Park Seo Jin (6th), Kim Yong Bin (7th), and Jang Hanbyul ranked 8th.'Unknown Legend' star Jang Hanbyul entered the top 10, standing shoulder to shoulder with seasoned senior singers. This result shows that in the trot brand competition, not only established stars but also singers who attract public attention with their unique colors are important.Finally, at 10th place is Jang Yun Jeong. Jang Yun Jeong is an indispensable singer when discussing the trend of trot popularization. Their long stage experience, familiar hit songs, and public communication through broadcasting are Jang Yun Jeong's unique brand assets. Although their ranking dropped by one place, they continued to maintain their presence by remaining in the top 10.The K-Brand Index this time is an indicator calculated based on online data, not a comprehensive ranking that reflects offline concert audiences or on-site reactions. Please note that the criteria may differ from the perspective of fans at the venue.Still Globally Top...The Power of 'Arirang' Shaking the World Music MarketThe world is once again paying attention to the overwhelming music power of BTS, BTS. BTS has made new history in the global music market by surpassing 5 billion cumulative streams on the global music platform Spotify with their fifth full album 'Arirang.'This record is particularly significant as it represents the highest number of plays for an album released worldwide in 2026. It is more than 2 billion plays ahead of Olivia Rodrigo's album, which ranked second, showcasing their unparalleled presence even in competition with global pop stars.What's surprising is that the popularity is not concentrated on the title track alone. All 14 tracks included in 'Arirang' have surpassed 200 million streams, and the title track 'SWIM' is also on the verge of surpassing 1 billion streams.On the release day, March 20th, the album's total streams reached 110 million, and on the Spotify Global Daily Chart, all 14 tracks occupied the top 14 positions, a rare feat.History continued to be made on the US Billboard charts. 'Arirang' not only debuted at No. 1 on the 'Billboard 200' but also maintained the top spot for three consecutive weeks, a first for a group album in 14 years, proving their global influence.Returning after a hiatus of approximately 3 years and 9 months, the 5 billion streams achieved by BTS is more than just a commercial record; it is a symbolic achievement that demonstrates the unwavering support of fans worldwide and BTS's global status.As BTS continues to write new history in world popular music beyond K-pop, music fans worldwide are keenly focused on how far their record-breaking streak will continue.Accumulating 6.68 Million Times a Day...Melon's Record of 14.7 Billion StreamsThere is an even more astounding record that shows results through numbers. Singer Lim Young Woong has once again set a monumental record that shines on South Korea's music history.As of 9 AM on the 13th, the cumulative streams of Lim Young Woong on the domestic music platform Melon surpassed an incredible 14.702 billion. This is an astonishing record, ranking first among all artists, both solo and group, and is about 700 million streams ahead of BTS and BTS, who are ranked second and third with approximately 14 billion streams.What's even more remarkable is the unstoppable upward trend. Lim Young Woong's daily stream increase is about 6.68 million. This record is being built not only by new songs but also by the continued popularity of their existing releases.Lim Young Woong, who previously became the first solo artist to reach 10 billion cumulative streams on Melon and was inducted into the Diamond Club, has now set a new milestone of 14.7 billion streams, surpassing 14 billion.At the center of all these records is the unwavering love and support of the fandom, Young Hero Generation. Lim Young Woong, who evokes empathy across generations by encompassing various genres from ballads to trot,The popularity proven by numbers, the trust built over time, and the unchanging fan loyalty—the monumental record of 14.7 billion streams goes beyond mere streaming numbers to show the unparalleled presence and astonishing influence of the artist Lim Young Woong.How far will Lim Young Woong's next record extend? Intense interest is focused on the journey of singer Lim Young Woong, who is writing new history in the music market beyond Korea.eel@tf.co.kr