Lee Soo-man, founder of SM Entertainment, inducted into Asian Hall of Fame, celebrated for his impact on K-POP and global culture.
November/5/2025 14:16Related Groups & Members
Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment and currently the key producer and visionary leader of A2O Entertainment, was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame at this year's award ceremony. The Asian Hall of Fame is an international recognition organization established in 2004, aimed at honoring the achievements of people of Asian descent and those with Asian roots. Lee Soo-man attended the ceremony held on the 1st (local time) at The Biltmore Los Angeles hotel, along with A2O Entertainment's producer Yoo Young-jin, the girl group A2O MAY, and Girls' Generation's Sunny. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025. At the ceremony, CJ Group's Vice Chairman Lee Mi-kyung, who introduced Lee Soo-man, expressed, "It is an honor to celebrate Producer Lee Soo-man, the godfather of K-POP," and stated, "K-POP has now transcended simple music to become a culture, a global community sharing passion. At the center of this is Producer Lee Soo-man, who has a vision to connect generations and cultures through the power of music." Furthermore, he praised Lee Soo-man for emphasizing the philosophy of "Culture First, Economy Next" long before Korean culture spread globally, and for continuously redefining the concept of K-POP for 30 years, calling him a "pioneer of culture and our eternal producer." Alongside Lee Soo-man, other inductees included former Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, legendary figure skater Michelle Kwan, globally popular Japanese artist YOSHIKI, and H-Mart founder Kwon Il-yong, totaling 12 inductees. On stage, Lee Soo-man commented, "I accept this award on behalf of all artists and creators who believe that creativity can unite the world. Creativity knows no borders. It is a universal language that connects us all. Music is the language of my life that moves hearts and connects people, and it has the power to bridge cultures." His acceptance speech received a standing ovation from the audience. The Asian Hall of Fame also described Lee Soo-man as a "pioneer of the global music and entertainment industry," revealing the reason for this honor. YOSHIKI also commented on his induction, thanking fans worldwide and the Asian Hall of Fame for this wonderful honor on his Instagram in both English and Japanese. The Asian Hall of Fame has previously inducted notable figures such as Freddie Mercury of Queen, BLACKPINK's Lisa, and Japanese composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, drawing significant attention each year.
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