Global audiences will soon get an unprecedented look into the life and influence of Lee Soo Man, the visionary founder of SM Entertainment, through a new feature-length documentary titled “Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop.” The film is currently in production and will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories.
Directed by Ting Poo, acclaimed for co-directing the 2021 documentary Val about actor Val Kilmer, this upcoming project is produced by This Machine, a division of Sony Pictures Television. The documentary aims to go beyond Lee Soo Man’s role as a music producer, portraying him as a “modern-day Willy Wonka” and a “futurist on the scale of Steve Jobs.”
The film promises to chronicle Lee Soo Man’s journey from singer to industry titan, spotlighting his creation of SM Entertainment in 1989. Often credited with laying the foundation for the modern K-pop industry, Lee Soo Man pioneered the training system and content ecosystem that now define the genre. His vision helped launch global acts like H.O.T.,BoA, TVXQ, EXO, NCT, and aespa.
Amazon Studios’ head of documentary features, Brianna Oh, emphasized the platform’s excitement in collaborating once again with Ting Poo to showcase Lee Soo Man’s global influence. “We’re thrilled to tell the story of someone who changed the landscape of pop music and youth culture worldwide,” she said.
With producers including Jenny Turner, R.J. Cutler, Jane Cha Cutler, Elise Pearlstein, Trevor Smith, and Teddy Zee, the film is backed by a seasoned team known for delivering compelling biographical narratives.
However, the recently released trailer for the documentary has sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing it of lacking respect for artists like the late Kim Jong-hyun. Critics argue that the documentary uses painful memories merely to craft a self-serving narrative for Lee Soo Man.
- I hope Jong-hyun’s family fucking sues whoever directed this bullshit.
- It’s so beyond disgusting to use OT3 TVXQ for a documentary like this while they’re blacklisted permanently because they stood up for themselves. It’s even more disgusting to have someone’s literal funeral clips shown in a documentary. Nobody’s watching this shit.
- There was a chance to showcase Jong-hyun’s legacy as a gamechanger in this industry. But to include his death at all as a means to display “The Dark Side of K-pop” is appallingly disgusting and unsound. Narcissistic Lee Soo Man. I hope Jong-hyun’s family sues everybody for this fuckshit.
- Is your “documentary” not good enough on its own to use Jong-hyun for your “Dark Side of K-pop” clickbait? Are you that desperate to make a few bucks? Seriously fuck you
- Using footage from a funeral is very low and tasteless. Those are the worst moments for a family and you are using it for what? Views? Shame on you.
Its reception may be overshadowed by the ongoing criticism, leaving many to question whether the film’s handling of sensitive topics was in poor taste. The official release date is still to be announced.
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