Lee Soo Man faces backlash from public for showing clips from SHINee Jong Hyun's funeral in new documentary

Fans of SHINee have been less than enthusiastic after watching the new trailer for the show ‘Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop’. The documentary series features a controversial clip that has sparked major debates online and has been heavily criticised. The documentary is on the life of Lee Soo Man, founder of one of the biggest media agencies in the Korean entertainment industry.

About the documentary

The documentary, which is going to be released on a popular online streaming platform on May 13, is going to be about Lee Soo Man’s journey and how he became the founder of one of the biggest and most successful entertainment agencies in the market.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He put a whole country on the map. Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop coming May 13. <a href="https://t.co/DXUlEPlyeJ">pic.twitter.com/DXUlEPlyeJ</a></p>&mdash; Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrimeVideo/status/1917270199134281735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A trailer was released, which showed that there were testimonials and clips from artists that the businessman has worked with over the past years of his career. It also takes a jab at exploring the more serious issues and controversies that are part of the Korean music industry.

Why fans are angry and the public is criticising the documentary

Rather than having any particular issue with the documentary itself, fans were enraged, and the public also criticised it, as the documentary contained a controversial clip. It shares a clip from SHINee member Kim Jong Hyun’s funeral footage, which has sparked major debate online. The idol passed away in December 2017 due to suicide after fighting a long battle with depression.

Public reactions to the clip

Many fans and the general public as well took to online social media platforms to express their disdain and criticise the filmmaker of the documentary. In turn, they also criticised Lee Soo Man for approving the clip to be shown in the documentary series.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">IF YOU&#39;RE A SHAWOL/JONGHYUN FAN DO NOT WATCH THIS I LITERALLY FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH RIGHT NOW WHAT THE FUCK??????? <a href="https://t.co/dxwwiMufT9">https://t.co/dxwwiMufT9</a></p>&mdash; sal ◌ (@cowpoke690) <a href="https://twitter.com/cowpoke690/status/1917318816570261770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So let me get this straight... This dude payed to make an entire &quot;documental&quot; to kiss his narcissistic ass and also tastelessly played clips OF JONGHYUN&#39;S FUNERAL + DIDN&#39;T ACKNOWLEDGE RED VELVET EXISTANCE &amp; THE ENTIRE THING IS JUST PEOPLE PRAISING HIM!?<br/>what a chop <a href="https://t.co/ZJoRp07a0D">https://t.co/ZJoRp07a0D</a> <a href="https://t.co/E5SUXP00g1">pic.twitter.com/E5SUXP00g1</a></p>&mdash; Audrey Sofia ♡ (@audreyluvie_cc) <a href="https://twitter.com/audreyluvie_cc/status/1917367778274849032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Many labelled the action as insensitive since the clip was shown during a completely unrelated voiceover that was happening. Many criticised the creator of the show, saying that this was reducing Jong Hyun’s legacy to a visual cue in the documentary.


As of right now, neither Lee Soo Man nor the online streaming platform where the documentary will be released has shared any statement about the matter. No comments have been made officially in response to the major backlash they have faced.