LEE SOOMAN, EMMANUEL MACRON
LEE SOO-MAN, key producer and visionary leader of A2O Entertainment (and founder of SM Entertainment), met with French President Emmanuel Macron on June 20 (local time) in Paris, where he was attending the “France Music Week Summit”. Their conversation focused on cultural collaboration between South Korea and France.
According to A2O Entertainment, during their meeting at the Élysée Palace, LEE SOO MAN was introduced as “the man who created K-pop.” President Macron stated:
“I am well aware that LEE SOO-MAN is an outstanding entrepreneur, creator, and accomplished producer.”
President Macron personally suggested that LEE SOO-MAN open a local office in France and expressed his commitment to strengthening collaboration between Korean and French creators. LEE SOO-MAN responded with a heartfelt “thank you.”
President Macron also gave direct instructions to the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, to begin formal discussions, according to A2O Entertainment.
A2O Entertainment emphasized that this meeting was more than just a formality—it clearly demonstrated how deeply France’s top leadership recognizes both the global impact of the K-pop industry and LEE SOO MAN’s cultural vision.
“This could become a symbolic starting point for a new model of cooperation between South Korea and France,” the company stated.
The “France Music Week Summit”, attended by LEE SOO MAN, brought together over 100 influential figures from the global music industry. Attendees included Robert Kyncl, CEO of Warner Music Group; Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube; and Olivier Nusse, CEO of Universal Music France.
As the only Asian speaker at the event, LEE SOO MAN delivered a speech outlining his long-standing concepts of “Culture Technology” (CT) and the importance of protecting creators’ rights in the age of AI. He stated:
“I imagine a world where fans are no longer just consumers, but become prosumers who create content themselves. Fans should be able to reinterpret, remix, and participate in the creative process—and even be fairly compensated for it. The rights of original creators must be strongly protected.”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: A2O Entertainment
