[instiz] 3 YEARS NON-COMPETE BAN LIFTED, LEE SOOMAN, RETURNS TO K-POP... OPENS AUDITION FOR A2O ZALPHA

A2O Entertainment Korea, founded by Lee Soo-man, announced on the 23rd that it will hold its first open audition, the "A2O ZALPHA AUDITION."

A2O explained that this audition is a project personally planned and overseen by Lee Soo-man, marking the company's first official step embodying a new direction and vision.

The audition will be conducted under the slogan "EVERY SUNDAY, A NEW POSSIBILITY BEGINS." It will be held regularly every Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at A2O Entertainment Korea, located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Accessibility has been enhanced by allowing applicants to apply simply by visiting the site on the day of the event, without any separate prior procedures. Applicants who are unable to attend in person can also apply through official online channels.

Applications are open to various fields such as vocals, rap, dance, and acting, and anyone can participate regardless of nationality or gender. The audition is scheduled to expand from Korea to Japan, the United States, and other regions, with detailed schedules and application methods announced via the official Instagram.

With the lifting of the "non-compete" clause late last month, which was included in the share purchase agreement between SM and HYBE, led by Chairman Bang Sihyuk, in February 2023, expectations in the industry have emerged that Lee Sooman will soon resume his activities.

He is the figure who founded SM in the 1990s and established a sophisticated "idol production system," starting with H.O.T. and S.E.S. and extending to TVXQ, Girls' Generation, EXO, and NCT. While leading A2O, he put forward the keyword "Zalpha-Pop." This concept, encompassing both Generation Z and Generation Alpha, is an expanded version of "Culture Technology (CT)," which he has championed since his days at SM.

Previously, due to non-compete clauses, he had been based in Singapore and focused his activities overseas; however, he has now secured a domestic base by establishing A2O Entertainment Korea. If the Chinese-centered girl group 'A2O MAY' served as a preview, the new team is expected to be a test case to prove that Lee Sooman’s signature multinational and multi-unit strategy remains valid in the home of K-pop.

Some are questioning whether "Lee Sooman’s signature style" can once again resonate with the public in the saturated 5th-generation idol market. However, the industry anticipates a significant impact simply from his return. Producer Yoo Young-jin, Lee Sooman’s longtime "soulmate," and Girls' Generation’s Sunny, who has transformed into a producer, have already joined A2O or are in collaborative relationships with him.

At the Asian Hall of Fame Awards late last year, Lee Sooman expressed his unwavering commitment to creativity, stating, "Music is a universal language that connects us all."

original post: here

1. They'll compare him to SM and grab everyone's hair like crazy again

2. I'm more shocked that it's already been 3 years

3. China dream

4. Just stay there

5. Grandpa, please come manage Korea a bit

6. I'm actually curious

7. Wow it's already bene 3 years?? I'm looking forward, but please stop bringing China into this

8. The real SM has come back

9. I saw the girl group and aside from their center, none of the members stand out, the song also lost all its vibe, I wonder how they'll do...

10. Already?? Time flies

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