Lee Soo Man Holds Meeting with Macron to Explore K-Pop Collaboration
At the heart of a growing cultural partnership between South Korea and France is Lee Soo Man, the legendary figure behind K-pop’s global rise, who recently received a special invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron. The two met at the Élysée Palace in Paris on June 20, 2025, after Lee delivered the keynote speech at the ‘France Music Week Summit’. Macron personally proposed a future collaboration and even suggested A20 Entertainment, Lee’s new company, open a local office in France to better connect French and Korean creators. The French president also tasked Minister of Culture Rachida Dati with laying out concrete next steps for this initiative.
Lee Soo Man—often introduced as “the founder of K-pop”—was praised by Macron as not just an exceptional entrepreneur but a creative pioneer who put Korean music on the world map. This meeting wasn’t just for show; it showed how seriously France’s government is taking the influence of K-pop and Lee’s cultural vision. It could signal a real turning point in how countries work together on culture and copyright issues.
The ‘France Music Week Summit’, held at Place de l’Opéra, gathered some of the music world’s biggest names, including Robert Kyncl, CEO of Warner Music Group; Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music; and Olivier Nusse, CEO of Universal Music France. They talked about major challenges facing the industry, like protecting creators’ rights and dealing with AI-generated content.
Among all the speakers, Lee Soo Man was the only one from Asia invited to give a keynote. In his speech, he shared the idea of ‘Culture Technology (CT)’, the system he pioneered that underpins K-pop’s success globally. He also touched on his strong ties to Paris, pointing out how innovation in culture has helped Korean music become a global phenomenon.
His remarks particularly focused on how artificial intelligence is changing creativity today.
"I envision a world where fans are no longer just consumers, but become prosumers who reinterpret and recreate content—and are rewarded for doing so," Lee Soo Man said.
"In the future, anyone can become a producer. We must protect the rights of both prosumers and original creators alike."
Before founding A20 Entertainment, Lee Soo Man was the mind behind SM Entertainment, launching iconic groups such as H.O.T., S.E.S., Shinhwa, Girls’ Generation, EXO, and Red Velvet. After stepping away from SM amid a management dispute in 2023, he started A20 Entertainment and debuted the global girl group A20 MAY in December 2024. Lee’s creative drive and international outlook continue to influence the global music scene through new ideas and partnerships.
This meeting with President Macron highlights how Lee Soo Man remains a key figure shaping the future of K-pop and, by extension, the broader global music industry.