By Former SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man is at the center of a fresh storm of criticism just days after his big K-pop comeback. On October 12, he launched twin rookie groups — boy group A2O Soul and girl group A2O Lite — under his new company A2O Entertainment. But it is not the music drawing the backlash; it is an AI idol phone-call service that lets fans interact with AI versions of the idols through voice and video calls.
A2O Entertainment idols concept art (Credits: Our Insane Blogs)
Why The AI Idol Service Has Fans Alarmed
The service was unveiled at the A2O groups’ debut showcase, “Welcome to Soulite From A2O Soul A2O Lite,” held at KINTEX, where even media personnel were given a hands-on trial. The idea is simple: fans can talk to what feels like their favorite idol on a normal phone call — except the responses are generated by an AI trained on the idol’s likeness and voice.
To build it, the company fed the voices and faces of the A2O idols into AI programs, creating AI avatars fans can call and chat with at will. And that is exactly where the problem lies: every idol under A2O Entertainment is extremely young — minors, some reportedly in elementary and middle school.
Netizens have called the concept “creepy” and “disturbing,” arguing that putting the identities of children through flirty, on-demand AI chatbot interactions is exploitative. Critics say it opens up deeply unsettling possibilities — grown adults being able to voice-call and text AI replicas of children who are told to say “just what you want to hear.”
A Pattern Of Controversy Around Lee Soo Man
This is not the first time Lee Soo Man has faced accusations over how he manages idols. The K-pop pioneer — who built SM Entertainment into an industry giant — has been dogged by controversy over artist treatment for years. Now, his return to the scene with a new company is being met with the same scrutiny.
Supporters of the debut have pointed out that the music from both A2O Soul and A2O Lite has been warmly received by fans around the world. But the heated online reaction suggests the AI service is overshadowing the music itself. “End the exploitation of elementary and middle school students in K-pop,” one widely shared post read, capturing the mood of the backlash.
As of now, A2O Entertainment has not publicly responded to the criticism. Whether the AI idol service will be adjusted — or quietly shelved — remains to be seen. What is clear is that the conversation around AI, idols, and minor safety is only getting louder.
Also Read: HYBE Faces Massive Backlash Over “Racist” Weverse India Ad That Mocked Indian Food and Culture | YG Entertainment’s New Update Sparks Major Speculation About BLACKPINK’s Future After Group Goes Unmentioned
Source: Koreaboo — read the full story there.
