By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- A2O Lite, the first girl group produced by former SM Entertainment chief Lee Soo-man, reached No. 1 on South Korea's largest music streaming platform shortly after releasing its debut single, before falling to sixth place hours later, data showed Thursday.
The group's debut digital single, "Neon," had topped Melon's Top 100 chart by 11 p.m. on Wednesday, 29 hours after its release at 6 p.m. the previous day, according to music industry experts.
It is unusual for a rookie group to top the chart within less than two days of a song's release, although it dropped to sixth place the following morning. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Soyeon's "I'm Gonna Toesa (feat. Kian84)" returned to No. 1.
New girl group A20 Lite performs during a media showcase to mark its debut at the KINTEX convention center in Goyang, near Seoul, on Oct. 12, 2026. (Yonhap)
A2O Lite is a nine-member group launched by A2O Entertainment, the company founded by Lee after he left SM Entertainment. Lee simultaneously introduced A2O Lite and 15-member boy group A2O Soul at a media showcase in Goyang, near Seoul, on Monday.
He returned to the domestic K-pop market after a three-year non-compete agreement expired earlier this year. He agreed to the restriction when he sold his stake in SM Entertainment to Hybe in February 2023.
A2O Lite's achievement has drawn attention because "Neon" departs from the prevailing success formula of the recent K-pop industry.
Recent releases often feature songs under three minutes long designed for dance challenges on short-form video platforms, along with styling that highlights each member's individuality. "Neon," by contrast, is a relatively long track with a length of 3 minutes and 28 seconds. It emphasizes sharp synchronized choreography, coordinated stage outfits, high notes and a dance break -- elements reminiscent of earlier generations of K-pop.
New boy group A20 Soul performs during a media showcase to mark its debut at the KINTEX convention center in Goyang, near Seoul, on Oct. 12, 2026. (Yonhap)
The song was produced by Yoo Young-jin, who worked with Lee at SM Entertainment on music for acts including H.O.T., BoA, TVXQ, Girls' Generation, SHINee and aespa.
The group has also generated online buzz for its members' appearances, as it gives a sense of familiarity by evoking former SM Entertainment artists. Some users said Aijing resembles BoA during her debut era, while others compared Oa to former S.E.S. member Eugene and former Girls' Generation member Jessica.
A2O Lite consists of multinational members from South Korea, China, Japan and Thailand.
sshim@yna.co.kr
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