Lee Soo-man launches two A2O teams simultaneously... 'Pine Tree Taste' becomes a hot topic

Three years after Lee Soo-man left SM Entertainment, he has returned as a producer by establishing A2O Entertainment. As the female group A2O LITE and the male group A2O SOUL have recently begun activities side by side, the visuals, music, and concepts of the two teams are becoming a hot topic online. According to reports, reactions in online communities and social media (SNS) have continued, with people noting that the members' appearances remind them of first-generation idols. This has once again drawn attention to Lee Soo-man's unique "pine tree taste" that has persisted for over 30 years.

A2O LITE member Ai Qing received reactions that she reminded people of BoA during her early debut days due to her confident gaze and atmosphere on stage. Oa, who serves as the center visual, drew attention with pure and distinct features that remind people of S.E.S.'s YUJUN and M.I.L.K.'s Seo Hyun-jin. The visuals of A2O SOUL member Aiden also became a hot topic. He had garnered interest since his trainee days with his sharp jawline and charisma, and a related short video has surpassed 12 million views.

Eyes focused on Ai Qing and Oa, reactions reminiscent of 1st generation idols

Following the appearance of the two teams, the element that first gained traction online was the members' visuals. In particular, A2O LITE member Ai Qing was introduced as being from China, born in 2013. According to reports, Ai Qing drew interest by showing a confident gaze and atmosphere on stage. Among the online reactions, there were comments such as, "It feels like watching BoA during her early debut." The reactions surrounding Ai Qing were not limited to her appearance but also mentioned her facial expressions and atmosphere on stage. The public's interest was captured by the combination of the member's age, origin, the impression shown on stage, and the comparison with BoA, who began her activities in the past.

Another comparison followed for Oa, who takes the center visual role in A2O LITE. The report described Oa's features as a pure and distinct impression that continues the lineage of S.E.S.'s YUJUN and M.I.L.K.'s Seo Hyun-jin. As reactions reminding people of BoA's early debut image for Ai Qing and reactions comparing Oa to YUJUN and Seo Hyun-jin emerged together, a narrative formed connecting the members of A2O LITE to first-generation idols. The fact that the names of past SM Entertainment groups and singers were mentioned simultaneously for the teams presented after Lee Soo-man returned to production was also introduced as one axis of the online buzz.

These reactions continued with the male group A2O SOUL. Member Aiden had been noted since his trainee days for his sharp jawline and charisma, and online, evaluations emerged that he reminds people of Jang Woo-hyuk and Kangta from the H.O.T. era. The expression quoted in the report was "a visual that mixes Jang Woo-hyuk and Kangta from the H.O.T. era." Following the reactions that the two members of A2O LITE remind people of BoA, S.E.S., and members of M.I.L.K., the appearance of Aiden from A2O SOUL was also discussed online through reactions connecting him to H.O.T. members, with the visuals of the two teams being discussed respectively online.

Debut song 'NEON' ranks 1st on Melon TOP100

The buzz surrounding the visuals continued with the chart performance of A2O LITE's debut song 'NEON'. According to reports, 'NEON' recorded 1st place on the Melon TOP100 at 11 PM on the 14th. It was introduced as the fastest speed since the chart reorganization in 2021. The original report stated the time the ranking was reached as 11 PM on the 14th, and did not specify the month separately. Along with the chart ranking, the debut song name, the time the ranking was recorded, and the explanation regarding the speed since the chart reorganization were included in the content covering A2O LITE's activities.

In A2O SOUL, the view count of a short video featuring Aiden exceeded 12 million. The report presented this as an example of the buzz surrounding Aiden. The related video was distributed in Shorts format, and along with the view count, Aiden's sharp jawline and charisma were mentioned. It turned out that A2O LITE drew interest through the Melon ranking of 'NEON', while A2O SOUL drew interest through the video views of member Aiden. The reactions of the two teams introduced in the report appeared through different indicators: music charts and online videos.

The reactions regarding the two groups included stories about appearances reminiscent of past idols, as well as content regarding the music and stage concepts of the two teams. The report presented these reactions as the main content of the online buzz that followed after the two groups began their activities. Although the subjects of comparison for Ai Qing, Oa, and Aiden were different, they were all connected to the names of 1st generation K-pop stars.

White outfits and synchronized choreography, combining millennium and futuristic sensibilities

As striking elements of the two groups' concepts, pure white outfits and sophisticated synchronized choreography were cited. The report explained that this visual composition combined the millennium sensibility of the 2000s with a futuristic tech sensibility. Online, reactions such as "It feels fresh because you can feel both the 1st generation K-pop group and futuristic sense at the same time" appeared. This reaction, which mentioned the outfits, choreography, and futuristic atmosphere together, was introduced as content that read both the image of past K-pop and a new technical sense from the two teams' stages.

The report also contained how this concept is perceived differently by generation. It is explained that it is perceived as a return of the Y2K sensibility by the older generation, and as an unfamiliar and fresh concept by the younger generation. The report conveyed this as a reaction where the two generations accept the same concept in different ways. In addition to the stage elements of pure white outfits and sophisticated synchronized choreography, the millennium-era atmosphere and futuristic tech sensibility were mentioned together, becoming keywords to explain the visual concept of the two teams.

In music production, a name connected to the past SM Entertainment has appeared. According to reports, producer Yoo Young-jin, who produced the music for H.O.T. and S.E.S., is known to have led the overall music production for the two A2O groups. A2O SOUL's music was described as being characterized by heavy bass lines and dramatic progression, while A2O LITE's music was mentioned for its sensual vocal melodies. The musical differences between the two groups were explained respectively through bass and progression, and vocal melodies. Yoo Young-jin was introduced alongside his music production history for H.O.T. and S.E.S., being named as the figure explaining the musical roots of the new groups.

Listener reactions included expressions such as "that era's taste that makes the heart react first" and metaphors like "Kimchi Pizza Tangsuyuk (fusion food) made by a 30-year Kimchi master." The report introduced these expressions along with responses that the music of the two groups evokes the sensibilities of past K-pop. An official stated, "The tenacity of a first-generation producer who puts forward the originality they do best is prominent," adding, "It seems that classic production grammar is working effectively by stimulating nostalgia and freshness in the current generation." This remark was delivered while explaining the reactions surrounding not only the members' visuals but also the concepts and music.

Two groups active side-by-side following producer's return

Lee Soo-man returned as a producer by establishing A2O Entertainment three years after leaving SM Entertainment. Since then, A2O LITE and A2O SOUL have recently launched side-by-side, and reactions surrounding the members and music of the two teams have continued online. For A2O LITE, the visuals of Ai Qing and Oa and the chart performance of the debut song 'NEON' were introduced, while for A2O SOUL, Aiden's appearance and related Shorts views garnered interest. The two groups were also discussed for their concept, which combines pure white outfits, sophisticated synchronized dancing, and a combination of millennium and future-oriented tech sensibilities.

The content mentioned in the report includes individual member reactions surrounding the two groups' activities, evaluations of the music and stages, and chart and video views. A2O LITE's 'NEON' recorded 1st place on the Melon TOP100 at 11 PM on the 14th, and the Shorts related to Aiden exceeded 12 million views. The original report did not separately present the subsequent activity schedules or additional plans for the two teams.

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