Lee Soo-man Leaves 1000 Trees in LA, Carrying on the Legacy of ‘Breathing Heritage’… Practicing Sustainability as a K-POP Producer
Lee Soo-man, the key producer of A2O Entertainment who led the globalization of K-POP, has left another meaningful footprint through a city environmental improvement project in Los Angeles, USA.
Starting as an extension of his long-standing tree planting activities, this urban greening campaign attracted over $1.25 million in funding through collaboration with KYCC (Koreatown Youth and Community Center) and achieved tangible results.
This campaign took its first step in September 2024 with Lee Soo-man’s personal donation of $500,000, and subsequently, with the participation of local communities, businesses, and grassroots supporters, an additional $750,000 in donations was raised under the leadership of KYCC.
KYCC emphasized that this project goes beyond simple tree planting and embodies a practical example of social equity in climate action within the local community.
Through this campaign, a thousand climate-resilient trees were planted in areas with low green space, such as South LA, Pico-Union, and Koreatown in Los Angeles.
Lee Soo-man expressed his belief in tree planting activities as leaving behind a legacy of ‘breathable heritage’ for future generations.
He added, “Art entails not only creation but also the responsibility of preservation and expansion,” emphasizing the role of creators in ESG.
A2O’s global girl group A2O MAY and Girls’ Generation’s Sunny also participated in this activity.
A2O MAY, a fIVE-member group composed entirely of Chinese members, continues to make remarkable achievements in the global music market.
Their direct involvement in tree planting inspired local residents and volunteers.
KYCC ExecutIVE Director Song Jeong-ho praised the outcomes as made possible by Lee Soo-man’s producer’s donation and vision, calling it a “ESG practice model created by culture and the community together.”