𖣘

[ARTICLE] 261101 'Lee Sooman's Boy Group' A2O SOUL, Will They Create a Male Version of 'NEON'? Can A2O SOUL become the next runner in the 'Lee Sooman Magic' relay? While the girl group A2O LITE made a spectacular debut that shook the K-pop scene with their debut track 'NEON', the boy group A2O SOUL, which threw their hat into the ring alongside them, is now gearing up to take the baton. Some suggest that SOUL's presence has been somewhat overshadowed by LITE’s explosive success, but given that SOUL’s official debut is still ahead, their true showdown starts now. A2O SOUL, a 15-member boy group introduced by A2O Entertainment's key producer Lee Sooman, will release their first album, 'SUPERSTAR', on November 9 and make their official debut. This comes about a month after they first introduced themselves to the public by releasing a pre-release track of the same name on the 13th. The upcoming album features a total of 5 tracks, including the pre-release song "Superstar" and the double title track 'Dancing in the Dark'. With Lee Sooman overseeing overall production, producers who have been active in the global music market, including Yoo Youngjin, participated to bolster the album’s quality. In particular, the group plans to officially introduce A2O's proprietary genre, 'NEW SYNTHWAVE', and solidify their musical identity. The primary reason why attention is focused on A2O SOUL's official debut is the better-than-expected performance previously achieved by A2O LITE. As LITE proved the presence of a major rookie group right alongside Lee Sooman’s return to the K-pop market, public attention naturally turned toward SOUL's upcoming trajectory as well. Indeed, A2O LITE’s momentum is extraordinary. Their debut track "NEON," released on the 13th, surged up to top Melon's Top 100 chart just 29 hours after release. Such unusual chart performance for a rookie flooded online communities and social media with attention surrounding their music, visuals, and stages. Along with evaluations that Lee Sooman's unique producing sense still works, expectations for a "second success myth" have risen to a high. Compared to this, A2O SOUL's start has been relatively quiet. While their pre-release track "Superstar" achieved meaningful results in the overseas market—such as ranking No. 2 on China’s QQ Music New Releases chart—it failed to spark the same explosive response domestically as "NEON." Because both teams announced their launch on the same stage, some regret that the buzz concentrated on LITE relatively diluted SOUL's presence. However, it is still too premature to simply compare the two teams' achievements at this point. Unlike LITE, which put forward "NEON" as their official debut track, SOUL has yet to release their first album. Since the currently released "Superstar" is also a pre-release track meant to warm up the atmosphere ahead of their official debut, November will be the true testbed for judging SOUL's box office potential. In particular, this upcoming debut album is significant because it is an opportunity for SOUL to prove a different charm from LITE. Composed of 15 members of diverse nationalities including South Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand, SOUL's competitive edges are large-scale performance and a unique musical color. The key will be whether Lee Sooman's know-how in producing large-group acts can shine once again. Notably, Lee Sooman has consistently tested the possibilities of large-scale groups in the past through Super Junior and NCT. The method of organically combining the overwhelming stage compositions generated by multiple members with the individual charms of each member remains one of his long-established production strategies. SOUL is also expected to showcase differentiated competitiveness based on this experience. Of course, there are challenges to overcome. They must imprint the distinct personalities of nearly 15 members onto the public while securing mass appeal for the music itself. Especially since LITE, their labelmate, secured a definitive hit song like "NEON" early on, the need for a representative track that can rapidly elevate SOUL's brand recognition has grown even larger. Even so, Lite's success is both a burden and an opportunity for SOUL. The two groups have shared a common worldview called 'SOULITE' and have shown connected paths since early debut. With public interest in the name 'A2O' itself heightened through LITE, if SOUL garners a positive response with high-quality music and performances, there is plenty of room to translate this buzz into a new fandom influx. Ultimately, the crux is whether SOUL can create its own box office momentum beyond LITE's shadow. Lee Sooman, who branded the girl group market with his presence via "NEON," is now placing another strategic bet with a 15-member boy group. All eyes are on whether Soul can satisfy the sky-high expectations raised by Lite's success and complete A2O's consecutive box office hits during their official debut this November. trans: @A2OSOULBASE 🔗 m.entertain.naver.com/home/a… #A2O #A2OSOUL #SUPERSTAR #A2OSOULBASE