SM Entertainment, a cornerstone of the K-pop industry, has confirmed the invitation of its founder, Lee Soo Man, to its ‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025’ concert in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The event will take place on January 11th and 12th at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

An SM representative announced on December 25th, “We have invited former chief producer Lee Soo Man, along with past and current artists associated with SM who are reachable.”

A Pioneer of K-pop

Lee Soo Man founded SM Entertainment in 1995, kickstarting the first generation of K-pop idols with the debut of H.O.T. Over the decades, SM has launched numerous top-tier acts, including S.E.S., Shinhwa, Fly to the Sky, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, and aespa, firmly establishing itself as a global leader in K-pop.

Despite stepping away from SM last year after selling most of his shares to HYBE during the highly publicized SM acquisition battle, Lee Soo Man remains a significant figure in the company’s history.

Response to the Invitation

According to a representative for Lee Soo Man, “While residing overseas, Mr. Lee first learned about the invitation through media reports. SM appears to have sent an invitation to his personal company, Blooming Grace, via registered mail and later publicized the invitation through the media.”

A Nostalgic Celebration

The ‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025’ concert is expected to feature performances from both current SM artists and iconic figures from its past, such as Tony An of H.O.T., Bada of S.E.S., and Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky. The event promises to be a nostalgic celebration of SM Entertainment’s contributions to the global rise of K-pop over the past three decades.

SEE ALSO: aespa's 'Whiplash' reaches 100 million Spotify streams