Singer Bada of the group S.E.S. has expressed her deep respect and gratitude toward A2O producer Lee Soo-man.
On October 16, Bada posted a photo taken with Lee Soo-man on her Instagram along with a lengthy message. Bada began, "29 years ago, I felt like... I was having a conversation with someone who had seen the future." She continued, "Mr. Lee precisely and meticulously described the position and vision of our country's idols in the distant future to me, an 18-year-old young artist. Because he spoke with such earnestness, even at that moment, I knew I would never forget it for the rest of my life."
Bada went on to share, "It's strange. Mr. Lee's soul does not age," adding, "I felt a conviction like the purity of a young boy in him back then, and I still feel it in our conversations these days." She said, "During S.E.S., every night I pondered and thought deeply about the answers to the questions he gave me, establishing those answers on my own. Listening to the demos he sent, I didn't put off my thoughts; I practiced them in my own way and let him hear them. Looking back now, through those times, I was receiving training as a vocalist and an artist who learns to understand music."
Bada also expressed her appreciation, saying, "I was not prepared at all to enter the market of popular singers, especially idols, which is sophisticated and driven by distinct concepts. Producer Lee Soo-man clothed me—someone with a healthy sound—in new attire of sophisticatedly colored music, and completely prepared me with the pride of being our country's first female idol vocalist. These experiences were also utilized in the process of surviving as a solo artist."
Near the end of her post, Bada wrote, "Something I truly will never forget for the rest of my life. Once again, my gratitude goes to Mr. Lee, who knew about my family's difficult financial situation at the time and paid my college tuition." She concluded her message by adding, "Mr. Lee, fighting!!"
S.E.S. is a three-member girl group that debuted on November 28, 1997. Lee Soo-man is a first-generation K-pop producer who founded SM Entertainment, and he recently introduced rookie groups A2O SOUL and A2O LITE through A2O Entertainment.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)