Key Takeaways
- Lee Soo-man is a Korean entertainment pioneer who has had a successful career as a singer-songwriter, founder of SM Entertainment, and now as the founder of A2O Entertainment.
- He believes that culture should come before economy and has worked to develop a "culture technology" system to produce and manage music artists.
- Lee is a strong advocate for the integration of technology and entertainment, using AI and chatbots to enhance music production and discovery.
- He has launched a new label, A2O Entertainment, which aims to marry entertainment and technology from the start.
- Lee’s goal is to make Korea a "nation of producers" and to provide a platform for young creators to develop their talents.
Introduction to Lee Soo-man’s Career
Lee Soo-man’s career has spanned multiple chapters, from his early days as a singer-songwriter in the 1970s to his founding of SM Entertainment in the 1990s. He has been instrumental in launching some of Korea’s most influential music groups, including H.O.T., Girls’ Generation, Exo, Super Junior, and Shinee. Lee’s work has helped to set off Korea’s cultural wave, and he is widely recognized as one of the country’s cultural pioneers. Recently, he was honored as an inductee to the Asian Hall of Fame, alongside other notable figures such as basketball legend Yao Ming and Korean astronaut Yi Soyeon.
Launching Korea’s Cultural Wave
Lee’s experience as a singer and his training as a computer engineer have shaped his approach to the entertainment industry. He has coined terms such as "culture technology" to describe the highly structured management ecosystem in Korean entertainment. This system produces music artists from early discovery to debut and comprehensive marketing campaigns. Lee’s manual on "culture technology" was used by employees at SM Entertainment, and he has applied his engineering background to develop innovative techniques for music video production. For example, he was inspired by a scene from The Matrix to develop the "Matrix Camera" system, which uses 120 still cameras to create a higher level of visual sophistication.
Embracing Technology and AI
Lee is excited about the convergence of technology and entertainment, and he believes that AI can be integrated into music production and discovery. He has collaborated with technology company 4DV Intelligence on "Infinite Studio," a system that can create multi-angle videos from a single shoot, reducing time and cost in video production. Lee also recognizes the importance of human creativity in the age of AI, stating that "all AI is doing now is collecting data from what has already been done, and packaging it to show you." He believes that human creativity becomes an even more precious and protected resource in this era. Additionally, Lee has launched an AI chatbot called "Blooming Talk," which takes on the personality of A2O’s artists, including Chinese girl group A2O May. The chatbot allows fans to communicate with the artists 24 hours a day, and it also enables the real artists to host live chats with fans on the platform.
The Future of K-Pop and A2O Entertainment
Lee’s new label, A2O Entertainment, aims to marry entertainment and technology from the start. He plans to set up "A2O School," a space where young people can use A2O’s content to recreate music and art from existing content. This will help them to find out where their abilities and talents lie from an early age, and to decide on their career path. Lee’s goal is to make Korea a "nation of producers" and to provide a platform for young creators to develop their talents. He believes that this approach will help to address some of the challenges facing the Korean cultural wave today, such as navigating the new era of TikTok and creative influencers. By providing a platform for young creators to develop their talents, Lee hopes to foster a new generation of artists who can create innovative and engaging content.
Balancing AI and Human Creativity
Lee recognizes that the integration of AI and human creativity is a complex issue, and he believes that it is essential to strike a balance between the two. He states that "technology can be used in good ways and bad ways, depending on how we intend to use it," and he is committed to using AI in a way that enhances human creativity rather than replaces it. Lee’s approach to AI is centered on using it as a tool to support human creativity, rather than relying solely on AI-generated content. By combining the strengths of human creativity with the capabilities of AI, Lee believes that it is possible to create innovative and engaging content that resonates with audiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lee Soo-man is a pioneering figure in the Korean entertainment industry, and his work has had a profound impact on the country’s cultural wave. His approach to "culture technology" and his emphasis on the importance of human creativity in the age of AI make him a unique and innovative thinker. Through A2O Entertainment, Lee is committed to providing a platform for young creators to develop their talents and to make Korea a "nation of producers." As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how Lee’s vision for the future of K-pop and A2O Entertainment unfolds. With his commitment to innovation, creativity, and technology, Lee is poised to remain a major player in the Korean entertainment industry for years to come.