Lee Soo-man (Korean:이수만;Hanja:李秀滿, born 18 June 1952) is a South Korean businessman, music executive and record producer who is best known for being the founder of SM Entertainment, a multinational South Korean entertainment company based in Seoul.[1] He has also been referred to as the "president of culture", as he pioneered the Korean Wave.[2] Lee debuted as a singer in 1971 while he was a student at Seoul National University. He founded SM Entertainment in 1989, which has since then become one of the largest entertainment companies in South Korea.
South Korean business executive and record producer
Lee was born in Jeonju, South Korea on 18 June 1952, and attended Seoul National University on and off between 1971 and 1979.[3][4] Lee debuted as a member of the band April and May (사월과 오월, alternatively 4월과 5월) in 1972 (he had joined the band in 1971), but he later departed from it due to health reasons.[5] He gained spotlight for his "good boy" image, supported by the fact that he was one of the few people who were not involved in the weed scandal among Korean celebrities in 1975, and his high academic credentials in Seoul National University.[6] He became known for hit songs such as "행복 (Happiness)", released in 1978,[6] and "한송이 꿈 (A Piece of Dream)" released in 1976.[6] In 1977, he was a member of the Korean indie band Sand Pebbles.[7] In addition to his career as a musician and his studies in university, he worked as a radio DJ and TV host during this time.[4]
Lee Soo-man was also known for his trio with singers Lee Moon-sae and Yoo Yeol called Masamtrio (馬三트리오), named as such because of their appearances that resemble that of a long face of a horse.[8][9]
In 1980, he formed the band 이수만과 365일 (Lee Soo-man and The 365 Days). However, media censorship policies under the Chun Doo-hwan government discouraged him from a career in the Korean music industry.
1980–1985: Studies in the United States
In the early 1980s, Lee decided to leave the entertainment world in order to pursue a career in computer engineering. He went abroad to work on a master's degree at California State University, Northridge,[10] where he witnessed the rise of "superstars of the MTV generation" such as Michael Jackson.[1] Inspired by the heyday of MTV in the United States, Lee set his sights on laying the foundation for the modern Korean pop music industry. In 1985, he returned to Korea "with a vision of what the Korean music industry could be."[4]
1985–present: Founding SM Entertainment
Lee Soo-man during the 1990s when he produced for Hyun Jin-young, the first singer to be signed to SM.
Following his return to Korea, Lee ventured back into the entertainment world by working as a DJ and presenter. In 1989, after four years of saving money and gaining experience in the industry, he established an entertainment company called SM Studio (named after his initials) in the Apgujeong neighborhood of Seoul, and signed singer Hyun Jin-young. During the 1990s, SM Studio developed an in-house system that looked after all aspects of its artists' careers.[4] Lee's approach was targeted at teenage audiences, and took a holistic view of the qualities needed to become a successful entertainer.[11] The company was renamed SM Entertainment in 1995.
In February 2010, Lee resigned from his position as a member of SM's board of directors, but maintained a role in the company's "management and artist development" divisions.[12]
On 23 January 2020, Lee Soo-man was listed by Billboard as one of the world's influential music industry leaders.[13][14]
On 5 February 2020, it was revealed by Jeff Benjamin writing for Forbes that Lee Soo-man worked on South Korean girl group Loona's EP [#], which was his first ever project away from namesake SM Entertainment.[15]
Personal life
Lee's wife, Kim Eun-jin, died from cancer on 30 September 2014.[16][17][18]
On 8 March 2022, Lee donated ₩500 million to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help those affected by the massive wildfires that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk. and also spread to Samcheok, Gangwon.[20] Other social causes include:
Global Citizen, "Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream," 2021[21][22]
Chief director and executive producer, Asia
SM Entertainment and Dream Maker Entertainment selected to host concert in Seoul and represent Asia for the biggest social cause event in history
UNICEF, SMile For U Campaign, 2016-2022[23][24][25]
Supporting children, parents, childcare workers, and educators in Asian regions to receive quality music education
Target areas include Hanoi, Da Nang, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, and Dien Bien (Vietnam)
SMile Social Service Corp., SM Entertainment, 2014–present[26]
Monthly and daily events for volunteer activities among SM Entertainment staff and artists
Activities include infant care, support for impaired youth, abandoned animal care, tree planting, and more
Continuously developing and increasing participant numbers: up from 130 in its first year to 462 participants in 2019
Personal donation for the victims of the Sewol Ferry incident, one of the gravest tragedies in South Korean history
Controversy
Embezzlement case and conviction
In 2002, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea found evidence of Lee earning 10 billions worth of illegal market profits in August 1999 by acquiring 1.1 billion worth of stocks when listing stocks of SM Entertainment at KOSDAQ by a paid-in capital increase.[28] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea also investigated Lee regarding circumstantial evidence of lobbying to producers in broadcasting stations and keeping a tremendous amount of cash in his personal office and vaults.[29]
Lee tried to escape prosecution by staying overseas from June 2002, and was found in a golf course in Los Angeles on 2 August in the same year.[30] While on the run, Lee's passport was nullified and Lee was chased by Interpol.[31] Lee eventually came back to Korea to be investigated on 22 May 2003.[32] A pre-arrest warrant was issued on 7 October,[33] and Lee was arrested on 8 October.[34] On 14 October, Lee was approved of bail after paying 30 million won.[35] On 19 October, Lee was prosecuted without detention.[36]
In September 2004, the Supreme Court of Korea sentenced Lee to two years of imprisonment along with three years of probation.[37] Lee was released in a special exemption in 2007 commemorating the fourth year of Roh Moo-hyun's presidency.
Slave contract
In 2009, three members of the boy bandTVXQ took their management agency SM Entertainment owned by Lee to court, claiming that the agency's 13-year-contract (often nicknamed a slave contract) was too long, too restrictive, and gave them almost none of the profits from their success.[38][39] The following year, in 2010, South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) created a rule that limited entertainment contracts to seven years.[40]
Pandora Papers
Lee Soo-man was included in the names of figures in the Pandora Papers.[41]
Discography
Albums
Lee Soo-man (Jigu Records, 1977)
Lee Soo-man (Shinsegae, 1978)
애창곡집 (Jigu Records, 1978)
Greatest (Universal Record Co., 1980)
Lee Soo-man (Shinsegae, 1983)
Lee Soo-man (Han Kook Record, 1985)
끝이 없는 순간 (Asia Record Co., 1986)
NEW AGE 2 (Han Kook Record, January 1989)
NEW AGE (Asia Record Co., November 1989)
Awards
This is missing information about award ceremonies, categories, works, and proper citations. (January 2021)
The name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the award
The Sisa Journal is one of the major weekly news magazines in Korea.[60] Established in 1989,[61] its annually conducted 'Who Moves Korea' survey determines the most influential figures in the country and highlights next-generation leaders of Korea.[62] The survey is conducted on a total of 1000 experts across 10 fields, including professors, journalists, politicians, businessmen, and cultural artists.[63]
Keith Howard Korean pop music: riding the wave 2006– Page 95 "together in 1996 by Lee Soo Man, a graduate of Seoul National University and a product of the campus-led song movement. Lee surveyed teenage girls, then advertised for dancers who most closely fitted what the girls said they wanted."
Lee Deok-haeng (8 March 2022). "이수만·SM, 산불 피해 복구 성금 5억원 기부"[Lee Soo-man and SM donated 500 million won for forest fire damage recovery] (in Korean). MT Star News. Retrieved 8 March 2022– via Naver.
Ahn, Jae-man (18 November 2011). 한·EU 산업협력의 날 22일 개최..이수만 회장 등 수상[Korea-EU Industrial Cooperation Day will be Held on the 22nd, To be Attended by Chairman Lee Soo-man and Others]. Edaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
Hong, Ji-young (8 December 2011). 조양호 위원장, 자랑스런 한국인 최고 대상[Cho Yang-ho, Chairman of the Committee, Proud of Korea's Top Prize Winners]. SBS News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
Jung, Yu-na (21 July 2017). SM 이수만, 문화인사 최초 '2016 영산외교인상' 수상[SM's Lee Soo-man Wins '2016 Yeongsan Diplomat Award 2016' for the First Time Among Cultural Figures]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
Jung, Chun-ki (8 November 2011). 신영균.이수만.하춘화씨 은관문화훈장[Shin Young-kyun, Lee Soo-man, and Ha Chun-hwa, Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
SM 이수만, LA 시장으로부터 공로패 받아[SM's Lee Soo-man, Takes Credit from the Mayor of Los Angeles]. Jeonbuk Ilbo (in Korean). 18 June 2005. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
Kim, Yong-woon (7 October 2016). [2016문화파워] 올해 최고의 문화리더 '소설가 한강'[Han Kang, The Best Cultural Leader of the Year]. EDAILY (in Korean). Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
Lee, Hyung-suk (26 December 2011). <굿바이 2011> 2011 대중문화 파워리더...'K팝 지휘자' 이수만 첫 1위 등극[<Goodbye 2011> 2011 The Power Leader of Popular Culture, K-Pop Conductor Lee Soo-man's First Number One Spot]. Herald Business (in Korean). Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
Lee, Il-ho (2 October 2018). 대학생이 뽑은 최고의 CEO는 '갓뚜기' 함영준[The Best CEO by College Students is Ham Young-joon]. Insight Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
Cho, Hye-seung (2 October 2018). 이재용, '국가 경제발전 기여 경영인' 2년 연속 1위[Lee Jae-yong Topped the List for the Second Consecutive Year of 'Executives Contributing to the National Economic Development']. Insight Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
Lee, Kyung-won (2 October 2015). 리더십 가장 잘 발휘하는 CEO 1위 구광모 LG 회장[LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, The Number One Executive Showing Best Leadership]. Insight Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
Seo, Jung-min (22 January 2013). 문화산업 1인자 이수만에 대한 기록, 이수만 평전[Records of Lee Soo-man, The Number One in the Cultural Industry, The Critical Biography Lee Soo-man]. Media Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
Kim, Ha-jin (31 October 2013). 임형주, '한국을 이끌 차세대리더 100인' 선정[Lim Hyung-Ju, '100 Next Generation Leaders to Lead Korea' selected] (in Korean). Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
Yeom, Kang-soo (18 August 2009). "누가 한국을 움직이나?" 시사저널 조사["Who is moving Korea?" Current Journal Survey]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
Kim, Hyo-sil (1 September 2014). ‘한겨레’, 신뢰도와 열독률 모두 ‘1위’ 언론['Hankyoreh', '1st place' in both reliability and reading]. The Hankyoreh (in Korean). Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
Ko, Jae-yeol (15 July 2005). 누가 연예 산업을 움직 이는가[Most Influential Person Moving the Entertainment Industry]. Sisa Journal (in Korean). Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
Lee, Eun-jung (16 March 2011). 이수만, '한국 대중음악 파워 100' 1위[Lee Soo-man Tops 'Korean Pop Music Power 100']. Yonhap News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
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