Are you a fan of the k-pop group EXO? Do you know the entire journey of the band and its various members?! Come check out everything about one of the most famous K-pop bands in the world.
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History of the band EXO
The group EXO currently consists of nine members, namely: Suho, Xiumin, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, D.O., Chanyeol, Kai, and Sehun. The band was formed by S.M. Entertainment, making its debut in 2012, with an initial lineup of 12 members, Luhan, Tao, and Kris were still participants, the three left between 2014-2015 after having issues with S.M. Entertainment and filing a lawsuit against them. The group was divided into two units, EXO-K and EXO-M, having their compositions in both Korean and Mandarin. The name EXO is related to the idea of coming from another planet, a planet outside the solar system (Extra Solar Planets), thus each one had their “super power,” completely stepping out of the context of any other K-pop group, revolutionizing within the Asian music industry.
On April 8, 2012, they truly debuted with the song “MAMA”, the group’s first single. In November of the same year, they received an award from the Mnet Asian Music Awards for Best New Asian Group. In 2013, they released their first studio album, titled “XOXO,” which resulted in over a million copies sold, causing the band to explode in popularity. Still in 2013, with two versions of the albums “Kiss” and “Hug,” in Korean and Mandarin, they topped the Billboard Music Albums chart.
EXO managed to enter the country’s music charts and received several awards thanks to the singles “Growl” and “Wolf”, and the album was the best-selling in South Korea, followed by the album Overdose, released on May 7, 2014.
The group released their second studio album, titled “EXODUS,” with the single “Call Me Baby”, in 2015, with this album they once again topped the most played songs in South Korea. In May of the same year, they were again on Billboard, breaking the record with an album in the highest position of the ranking within Korea, being in 95th place.
The band’s first tour was in 2016, in the United States, with “EX’ACT,” “For Life and “Coming Over.” In February of the same year, Forbes Korea named them as the most influential celebrities in South Korea.
And it doesn’t stop there, the boy band held the most Daesangs, the highest music award in South Korea, for years. And due to the various awards they received throughout their career, they became the third K-pop group with the most awards in history.
The last comeback they released was in 2016, when they debuted “Obsession”, after that they only released another on May 7, 2021, titled; “Don’t Fight the Feeling.”
Curiosities about EXO
EXO, in addition to its initial formation, EXO-K and EXO-M, is also divided into other subunits, which are smaller formations with specific members for specific releases and promotions, such as EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin) and EXO-SC (Sehun and Chanyeol).
Everyone knows that the members of EXO dance very well, sing even better than they dance, and are extremely handsome, but did you know that in addition to all that they also act? If you didn’t know, here’s another curiosity.
If you love dramas and fanfics and have never seen EXO Next Door, you are missing out on a great drama, in this K-drama the boys play themselves. After the death of his grandfather, Chanyeol moves into his house along with D.O., Baekhyun, and Sehun, and in the house next door lives Yeon-hee, a big fan of the band, not knowing who is in the house next door, she is hired to work for them, and as she gets closer to the boys, she begins to develop feelings for two of them and feels torn.
Besides this drama, D.O., Baekhyun, Kai, Chanyeol, Suho, Lay, Sehun, and Xiumin have had other appearances on screen:
D.O:
- I Remember You;
- Be Positive and It’s Okay;
- That’s Love;
- Ka-teu;
- Pure Love;
- My Annoying Brother;
- 100 Days My Prince;
- 7 Hosil, hyung;
- Swing Kids;
- Along With The God.
Baekhyun:
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
Xiumin:
- Falling for Challenge;
- Seondal: The Man Who Sells River.
Suho:
- The Man Who Laughs;
- One Way Trip;
- Student A;
- The Present;
- The Universe’s Star;
- Rich Man;
- How Are U Bread.
Chanyeol:
- Missing Nine;
- Memories of Alhambra;
- Salut D’Amour;
- Minari: In Search of Happiness;
- I Married an Anti-Fan.
Lay:
- The Mystic Nine;
- The Founding of an Army;
- To be a Better Man
- The Island;
- The Golden Eyes;
- Ming Dynasty.
Sehun:
- Secret Queen Makers;
- Dokgo Rewind;
Kai:
- Spring Has Come;
- Choco Has Come;
- Seven First Kisses;
- Andante
- The Miracle We Met.
Now that you know which K-dramas and movies they have been in, you can binge-watch all month long.
Members of EXO
Oh Sehun (오세훈) is the rapper and dancer of the group, he is 1.83m tall, born on April 12, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea, currently 27 years old and is the maknae (youngest member) of the group.
In addition to being a singer (rapper), dancer, songwriter, and actor, Sehun is also a model and participated in Seoul Fashion Week in 2014.
Kim Jongin (김종인), better known as Kai, is a rapper and also a dancer in the band. He was born on January 14, 1994, in Suncheon, South Korea, is 28 years old and 1.82 m tall.
Did you know that Kai and Jennie, a member of the girl band Black Pink, used to date?! The couple ended their relationship in 2019, after a month of their relationship becoming public.
Kai has been taking dance lessons since he was eight years old, and among the various dance styles he practiced are jazz and ballet.
Kim Junmyon (김준면), stage name “Suho,” is the leader of the group, it’s no coincidence that the meaning of his stage name is “guardian.” Suho was born on May 22, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea, is 30 years old and 1.73 m tall.
He became a trainee at S.M. when he was only 16 years old and in 2007 appeared as a supporting character in the Super Junior movie titled “Attack on the Pin-Up Boys.
Park Chanyeol (박찬열) is the sub-vocalist and rapper, born on November 27, 1992, is 29 years old and 1.85 m tall, making him the tallest among the boys.
His acting career began in 2015 with the film Salut D’Amour.
Currently, Chanyeol is in military service, having enlisted on March 29, 2021.
Kim Minseok (김민석), Xiumin, was born on March 26, 1990, the oldest in the group, don’t be fooled by his cute face, he is the oldest in the group, at 31 years old, he is 1.73 m tall.
As Xiumin loves steamed buns, Luhan nicknamed him “Baozi” also because of his round and fair face.
Byun Baek-hyun (변백현), is 1.74 m tall, born on May 6, 1992, is 29 years old. Baekhyun was the last member to join the company and one of the fastest to debut.
The K-idol has his own clothing brand called “Privé By BBH”, along with Privé.
Kim Jong-dae (김종대), the real name of Chen, is 29 years old, born on September 21, 1992, and is 1.72 m tall.
Did you know that Chen is already a father? That’s right, he recently announced through SM, on the Xsport News portal, the birth of his second child. His first daughter was born in April 2020, he married his girlfriend in the same year, a few months before the birth of their daughter, the name of the lucky one is not known as they preferred to keep her identity a secret, as she is not famous.
Do Kyung Soo (도경수), D.O is one of the vocalists of the boy band. He was born on January 12, 1992, is 29 years old, and is 1.72 m tall.
After acting in the drama It’s Okay That’s Love, in an interview Kyungsoo said he began to have an interest in psychology.
Zhang Yixing is Lay’s birth name, he is Chinese, born in Changsha, on October 7, 1991, is 30 years old and 1.77 m tall.
While Lay was a trainee, he practiced more than 10 hours a day, having only one meal a day.
Due to political complications between China and South Korea, Lay has stayed away from EXO events and has not participated in the group’s comebacks since 2018, but he is back in “Don’t Fight The Feeling” which was released in 2021.
With this many members, there are many stories to tell, did you enjoy discovering more about one of the most influential K-pop groups in Korea? Leave in the comments what you liked most about them and don’t forget to like and share with your friends.
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