Are you a fan of the k-pop group EXO? Do you know the entire trajectory 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: 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 the initial lineup of 12 members; Luhan, Tao, and Kris were still participants, and all 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 had their "super power," completely breaking away from the context of any other K-pop group, revolutionizing the Asian music industry.
On April 8, 2012, they officially 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, 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 receive various awards thanks to the singles “Growl” and “Wolf”, and the album was the best-selling in South Korea, which was 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 reached the top of 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 ranking position 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 boyband managed to hold more Daesangs, the biggest 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 revealed another one on May 7, 2021 titled; "Don't fight the feeling".
Curiosities EXO is left
EXO, in addition to their initial lineup, EXO-K and EXO-M, they are also divided into other subinits, which are smaller lineups with specific members for specific releases and promotions, such as EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin) and EXO-SC (Sehun and Chanyeol).
That EXO members dance very well, sing even better than they dance and are extremely handsome, everyone already knows, but did you know that on top of that they still act? If you didn't know, look at this other curiosity.
If you love doramas and fanfiction and have never seen EXO Next Door, you are missing out on a great dorama. In this K-drama, the boys play themselves. After the death of his grandfather, Chanyeol moves into his house with D.O, Baekhyun, and Sehun, and next door lives Yeon-hee, a big fan of the band. Unbeknownst to her who is living next door, she is hired to work for them. As she gets closer to the boys, she starts to develop feelings for two of them and is torn.
In addition to this drama, DO, Baekhyun, Kai, Chanyeol, Suho, Lay, Sehun and Xiumin had other appearances on the small screen:
OF:
- Eu lembro de você;
- Be Positive and It's Okay;
- That's Love;
- Ka-teu;
- Amor Puro;
- Meu Irmão Chato;
- 100 Days My Prince;
- 7 But, hyung;
- Swing Kids;
- "Junto com o Deus."
Baekhyun:
- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
Xiumin:
- Enamorando-se pelo Desafio;
- Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River.
Suho:
- O Homem Que Ri;
- One Way Trip;
- Student A;
- O Presente;
- The Universe's Star;
- Rich Man;
- "How Are U Bread".
Chanyeol:
- Missing Nine;
- Memories of Alhambra;
- Hello Love;
- Minari: In Search of Happiness;
- "I Married an Anti-Fan"
Lay:
- Os Nove Místicos;
- The Founding of an Army;
- To be a Better Man
- A ilha.
- Os Olhos Dourados;
- Ming Dynasty.
Sehun:
- Secret Queen Makers;
- Dokgo Rewind;
Kai:
- A primavera chegou;
- Choco Has Come;
- Sete Primeiros Beijos;
- Andante
- O Milagre Que Nós Encontramos.
Now that you know what k-dramas and movies they've been in, you can marathon all month.
members from EXO
Oh Sehun (오세훈) is the rapper and dancer of the group, is 1.83m tall, was born on April 12, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea, is 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 has participated in Seoul Fashion Week in 2014.
Kim Jongin (김종인), better known as Kai, is a rapper and dancer in the band. Born on January 14, 1994, in Suncheon, South Korea, he is 28 years old and is 1.82 m tall.
Did you know that Kai and Jennie, a member of the girlband Black Pink, were already dating?! The couple ended their relationship in 2019, after a month that the relationship went public.
Kai has been taking dance classes since he was eight years old and among the various dance styles he has taken, there is jazz and ballet.
Kim Junmyon (김준면), stage name “Suho”, is the leader of the group, no wonder the meaning of his stage name and “guardian”. Suho was born on May 22, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea, is 30 years old and is 1.73 m tall.
He became a trainee at S.M when he was only 16 years old and in 2007 he appeared as a supporting character in the Super Junior movie, called “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, he is the tallest of the boys.
His acting career began in 2015 with the film Salut D'Amour.
Currently Chanyeol is in the military, he joined 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 face, he is the oldest in the group, at 31 years old, he is 1.73 m tall. height.
As Xiumin loves baked buns, Luhan nicknamed him “Baozi” and also because his face is round and white.
Byun Baek-hyun (변백현), is 1.74 m tall, was 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), Chen's real name, is 29 years old, was born on September 21, 1992, 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, and he married his girlfriend in the same year, a few months before the birth of his daughter. The name of the lucky one is not known as they chose to keep her identity a secret, due to her not being famous.
Do Kyung soo (도경수), DO is one of the vocalists of the boyband. He was born on January 12, 1992, is 29 years old, is 1.72 m tall.
After acting in the drama It’s Okay That’s Love, in an interview Kyungsoo said that he began to have an interest in psychology.
Zhang Yixing is Lay's birth name, he is Chinese, he was born in Changsha on October 7, 1991, he is 30 years old and 1.77 m tall.
While Lay was a trainee, he practiced more than 10 hours a day, eating just 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 so many members, there's a lot of story 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.