“The situation is so hectic…”
Koreaboo
Two rookie K-Pop groups are already making waves in the advertising industry just days after their debut.
A2O LITE and A2O SOUL, both produced by Lee Soo Man, reportedly received a combined 56 advertising proposals in just 24 hours, proving the massive interest the groups are attracting.
According to industry insiders, the two groups have been receiving a flood of brand-deal offers since their October 13 debut.
One insider revealed that 56 proposals came in for the groups on October 15 alone.
A total of 56 advertising proposals for the two groups came in over the course of a single day on the 15th. The situation is so hectic that the phone lines are practically overwhelmed.
– Key Insider
A2O LITE (the rookie girl group) is already seeing impressive results with their debut song, “NEON.”
The track reached No. 1 on Melon’s TOP100 chart at 11 PM on October 14, just 29 hours after the group’s debut. As of 3 PM on October 16, it was still holding onto the top spot.
[REAL TIME ALL-KILL] A2O LITE “NEON” 10PM KST Update:
#1 MelOn (=)
#1 Flo (=)
#1 Bugs (=)
#1 Genie (+1) *new peak*— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) October 15, 2026
Both groups received significant attention due to Lee Soo Man’s involvement in their creation and his much-talked-about exit from SM Entertainment.
In 2023, Lee Soo Man transferred his stake in SM Entertainment to HYBE and left the company. As part of the arrangement, he agreed not to participate in music production in Korea for three years.
That non-compete clause was lifted in February, paving the way for his return to the domestic music industry.
Now, with A2O LITE and A2O SOUL attracting attention just days after their debut, the groups are already generating interest from both music fans and the advertising industry.