May 15, 2025
Key Points
- The future of K-pop seems uncertain, with recent controversies
and declining US chart performance.
- Lee Soo-Man's documentary premiere highlighted industry issues,
including exploitation and "slave contracts."
- The presence of a Chinese girl group may signal a shift,
raising questions about K-pop's direction.
Event Overview
On May 12, 2025, the world premiere of Lee
Soo Man: King of K-Pop took place at NeueHouse Hollywood, attended by K-pop
stars like Girls’ Generation and A20’s May, an all-Chinese girl group produced
by Lee. The event, tied to a documentary celebrating Lee’s influence, showcased
the industry’s global reach but also its challenges.
Industry Criticisms
Research suggests K-pop faces significant
issues, including exploitative contracts, mental health struggles, and
unrealistic beauty standards. Recent reports indicate declining US success,
with legal dramas impacting groups like NewJeans. Lee Soo-Man’s past, including
management disputes at SM Entertainment, adds to the controversy.
Future Outlook
It seems likely that K-pop’s future is at a
crossroads, with potential decline or adaptation. The industry’s reliance on
profit over artist well-being, as seen in the documentary’s gloss, may hinder
its global standing.
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| Three Korean midgets and five Chinese girls |
Introduction
On May 12, 2025, the world premiere of Lee
Soo Man: King of K-Pop took place at NeueHouse Hollywood, marking a
significant moment for the K-pop industry. The event, attended by approximately
300 Hollywood music and film professionals, featured K-pop icons like Super
Junior’s Choi Siwon, SHINee’s Taemin, and three members of Girls’ Generation,
alongside the newly introduced A20’s May girl group, all Chinese members
produced by Lee Soo-Man. This premiere, tied to a documentary celebrating Lee’s
legacy, offers a lens to examine the industry’s current state and its uncertain
future, especially given the controversies and criticisms that have plagued
K-pop.
Event Details and Context
The premiere was part of the rollout for Lee
Soo Man: King of K-Pop, which debuted on Amazon Prime on May 13, 2025. The
documentary, directed by Ting Poo, aims to chronicle Lee’s journey as the
founder of SM Entertainment and his role in shaping the global K-pop
phenomenon. The red carpet event featured a mix of nostalgia, with appearances
by long-time SM artists, and a forward-looking element with A20’s May,
suggesting Lee’s expansion into the Chinese market. The image provided, showing
Girls’ Generation and A20’s May together, underscores this blend of legacy and
new ventures, set against a backdrop branding Lee as the “King of K-Pop” and
highlighting A20 Entertainment.
Industry Criticisms and Controversies
The K-pop industry, while a global cultural
force, is not without its dark side. Research from various sources, including Forbes: ‘Lee Soo Man: King Of K-Pop’ Documentary Examines A
Legendary K-Pop Legacy, reveals that the documentary itself acknowledges
criticisms, such as the infamous “slave contracts” associated with SM
Entertainment under Lee’s leadership. These contracts, binding idols for years
with little creative freedom, have been a point of contention, reflecting a
broader industry practice of exploitation. The BBC:
The dark side of South Korean pop music article from 2011 highlights a
history of legal disputes over artist treatment, a concern that persists today.
Recent developments, as noted in The Guardian: Can K-pop overcome crisis?, suggest the
industry is facing challenges. Albums by Blackpink members Jennie and Lisa
debuted at No. 7 on the US chart but dropped out quickly, and groups like
Tomorrow X Together and Twice face precipitous chart declines. Legal dramas,
particularly around NewJeans, have further tarnished the industry’s image, with
domestic fans reportedly growing bored, as per the article. The Diplomat:
The Dark Side of K-Pop adds to this, discussing the abuse and discarding of
trainees and stars, likening the industry to a “Dorian Grey-like heart.”
Specific Issues: Exploitation and Mental
Health
The K-pop training system is notorious for
its grueling nature. Trainees, often teens, face intense schedules, with
reports of eating disorders and fainting on stage due to malnutrition, as seen
in The Capitalist Control of K-pop: The Idol as a Product - ICDS.
Twice’s Momo revealed being forced to lose seven kilos before debut, eating
only an ice cube for a week, highlighting the industry’s unrealistic beauty
standards. Mental health struggles are also prevalent, with suicides among
idols, such as SHINee’s Jonghyun in 2017, underscoring the pressure, as noted
in Exploding the myths behind K-pop | K-pop | The Guardian.
Lee Soo-Man’s Role and Recent
Developments
Lee Soo-Man’s legacy is complex. While
credited with globalizing K-pop, his tenure at SM Entertainment was marked by
controversies, including a 2023 management dispute leading to his sale of a
14.8% stake to HYBE, which later withdrew, as per Lee Soo Man attends LA screening of his documentary ‘The King
of K-Pop’ | allkpop. This instability reflects broader industry tensions.
The documentary’s premiere, with A20’s May, suggests a pivot to China,
potentially signaling a decline in domestic focus, which could be seen as a
strategic retreat amid South Korean market saturation.
The Future of K-pop: A Crossroads
Given these factors, the future of K-pop
seems uncertain. The industry’s reliance on profit over artist well-being, as
evidenced by the documentary’s gloss over these issues, may hinder its global
standing. The presence of a Chinese girl group at the premiere could indicate a
diversification strategy, but it also raises questions about cultural
appropriation and the industry’s direction. Recent chart performance and legal
issues suggest a potential decline, though adaptation is possible if the
industry addresses these systemic problems.
Conclusion
The premiere of Lee Soo Man: King of
K-Pop is a microcosm of K-pop’s current state: a celebration of legacy amid
growing cracks. The industry’s future hinges on whether it can evolve beyond
exploitation and address mental health, or if it will continue down a path of
decline, as recent trends suggest. For now, the dark side of K-pop is catching
up, and no amount of PR can hide that.
Key Citations
- Forbes: ‘Lee Soo Man: King Of K-Pop’ Documentary Examines
A Legendary K-Pop Legacy
- The Guardian: Can K-pop overcome crisis?
- BBC: The dark side of South Korean pop music
- The Diplomat: The Dark Side of K-Pop
- The Capitalist Control of K-pop: The Idol as a Product -
ICDS
- Exploding the myths behind K-pop | K-pop | The Guardian
- Lee Soo Man attends LA screening of his documentary ‘The
King of K-Pop’ | allkpop