A2O groups debut with young, multinational lineup and old-school K-pop formula

A2O Lite’s debut single “Neon” topped Melon’s Top 100 on Wednesday, giving producer Lee Soo-man a strong start to his return to the Korean music industry.

Beyond its early chart success, however, A2O’s two new groups reveal how the veteran producer is approaching this generation of K-pop idols: The young, multinational lineups are paired with a musical style reminiscent of his earlier work at SM Entertainment.

A2O Lite and boy group A2O Soul made their first official appearances at a joint showcase at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. The nine-member girl group and 15-member boy group released debut singles “Neon” and “Superstar,” respectively, the following day.

Together, the groups comprise 24 members from five countries — Korea, China, Japan, Thailand and the US — with an average age of 15.

A2O Lite’s youngest members, Ayune, Oa and Aijing, are 13, while A2O Soul’s youngest members — Sono, Zai, Ayden and Zet — are 14.

Within A2O Lite, Aijing has emerged as one of the most talked-about members, drawing comparisons to BoA at the time of her debut for her dancing and youthful image. Oa has also attracted attention from viewers who say she resembles former Girls’ Generation member Jessica.

Several members had also been introduced publicly before debut through performance videos released under the “A2O Rookies” banner beginning in 2024. Current members of both Lite and Soul appeared in the trainee series while still in their early teens, although their exact recruitment dates have not been disclosed.

Recruiting and training performers at a young age is hardly unique to A2O. K-pop agencies have long scouted children and teenagers years before debut, giving companies time to develop their singing, dancing, language and performance skills.

The practice has also been a recurring part of Lee’s career since his years at SM. BoA debuted at 13 in 2000, while Shinee’s Taemin and f(x)’s Krystal were both 14 when they debuted in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Lee has previously described early debut as part of a longer-term artist-development model. Speaking about BoA’s early career on the singer’s 2020 web series “Nobody Talks to BoA,” he said he believed idols should debut between the ages of 13 and 15 and establish themselves by 16 to 18.

“Lee Soo-man’s rationale for debuting idols at an early age is not simply that younger artists are more marketable,” culture critic Kim Heon-sik told The Korea Herald. “The idea is to start early enough that the company has time to develop a performer’s technique, physique and stage presence.”

Kim added that younger artists may also be better positioned to connect with audiences of a similar age.

That point is particularly relevant to A2O, whose music Lee has branded as “Zalpha Pop,” a term he coined by combining Generation Z and Generation Alpha to describe music aimed at younger digital-native audiences.

“If the aim is to create a group that can build a sense of connection with younger listeners and grow alongside them, that may also explain why the members themselves are so young,” Kim said.

Familiar sound, new roster

If A2O’s young, multinational lineup reflects broader trends already common across K-pop, its music has prompted more direct comparisons with Lee’s past.

Online discussion following the groups’ debut has frequently described A2O Lite’s sound as reminiscent of “old SM,” citing its densely layered vocals, prominent harmonies and dramatic song structures.

Yoo Young-jin, who worked with Lee for decades at SM and helped shape the vocal and production style of numerous SM acts, participated in A2O’s music production.

“Neon” builds around a heavy bass line and rhythmic melody before adding stacked vocals, high notes, a bridge and a dance break. Its structure has drawn comparisons with Girls’ Generation and f(x), particularly for its electronic production and late-song climax.

A2O Soul’s “Superstar,” meanwhile, takes a lighter, more melodic approach, emphasizing bright synthesizers and layered vocals across its 15-member lineup. Its vocal-centered production has prompted comparisons with earlier SM boy groups including TVXQ, Shinee and Exo.

So far, the stronger public response has gone to A2O Lite.

Other than placing at the top of Melon’s Top 100 chart, “Neon” also ranked No. 3 on Genie Music’s Top 200, No. 1 on Bugs’ real-time chart, No. 8 on Flo and No. 4 on Apple Music Korea’s Top 100. The group’s showcase performance video also surpassed 4.16 million views, while the music video recorded 6.56 million views.

The response, however, has not been universally positive.

Some listeners have welcomed the return of a musical style that has become less prominent as K-pop has shifted toward shorter tracks and simpler, more repetitive hooks. Others have described the sound as dated rather than refreshing.

The comparisons with Lee’s former SM artists have also drawn pushback from some fans, who argue that A2O should be evaluated on its own rather than being constantly measured against BoA, Girls’ Generation, f(x) or Exo.

“A2O retains several hallmarks of the idol system Lee spent decades developing at SM — early recruitment and training, large groups, overseas members and meticulously layered pop production,” Kim said. “Whether Lee can turn that familiarity into something recognizably A2O, rather than a revival of his SM legacy, is something worth keeping an eye on.”