Looks like EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, and other SM artists are going to have new juniors.
The record producer is said to have sent an explanatory statement, in which he notes that he will not be able to be a witness for an audit conducted by the Korean Fair Trade Commission and the State Affairs Committee. The reason he mentioned is that he is currently on a business trip to make promotions and arrangements for a new artist debut.
The news didn't receive much positive reaction from the public, with most of the fans emphasizing the agency's inability to look after their artists' health as well as protecting them from cyberbullying. The fact that SM has already lost two precious artists - SHINee's Jonghyun and former f(x) member Sulli - many people don't think that debuting a new group is a good idea.
Also, considering that Lee Soo Man might be managing new Chinese artists since he is in China, and yet he and the staff were not able to take care of their former Chinese singers like former EXO members Kris, Luhan, and Tao, and former Super Junior member Hangeng, fans totally disagree with SM's plan.
Because of the many controversies that have surrounded SM Entertainment and another most recent one (Sulli's passing) many are calling out Lee Soo Man, remarking that he should pay more attention to his artists and their mental state before proceeding to a new group debut.
Some of the fans comments are, "They should concentrate on the well-being of the artists they have before more of them end up with a nervous breakdown," "SM should debut a counseling team rather because all the company cares about is money and not really the artists' physical and mental health," "They should invest more in their artists' well-being and physical health. A debut can wait. Don't be selfish!"
Many of the K-pop fans even compared SM to JYP, which gives love and care to their artists, giving TWICE's Mina as an example which is given time to recover from anxiety and is not forced into participating in all of the group's activities.
What do you think about SM Entertainment debuting a new group?
