K-POP or Korean Pop music is gaining popularity not only in East Asia but around the whole globe. K-POP is the pop music genre of South Korea. The origin of modern K-POP is in 1992 with Seo Taiji & Boys. After that, many KPOP bands became popular in South Korea and other East-Asian countries. Two decades later, the Korean-Chinese boy-band EXO debuted under the label of SM entertainment. Fans went crazy over EXO as the songs were very admiring. Not only pop, but EXO also has songs in other genres like R&B, including EDM. This boy band debuted with 12 members and had two sub-groups- EXO-K and EXO-M. EXO-K included 6 members; Suho, Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Do Kyungsoo, Kai, Sehun. EXO-M included 6 members; Xiumin, Lay, Chen, Kris, Luhan, and Tao. Where three Chinese members of EXO-M left the group in 2014 and 2015. The debut song of EXO is Mama which was released on April 9, 2012. EXO-K (Korean) promoted the band and song in South Korea whereas EXO-M (Mandarin) promoted the band in the Chinese Music industry. This band was awarded as the Best New Asian Group in 2012. EXO also bags the Newcomer Award in Golden Disc Awards. EXO won the biggest music award Daesang in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Other than this, EXO has swept out almost every music award from 2013 to 2016.
Members of Korean-Chinese Boyband EXO
EXO Kai
Kim Jong-in is better known by his stage name Kai. He was born on January 14th, 1994. Kai is not only the main dancer of EXO but one of the best dancers in the KPOP industry. He is also a member of the supergroup SuperM. Kai learned ballet and jazz dance in his childhood. Along with the group, Kai EXO released his first solo album ‘Mmmh’ on November 30, 2020. Now Kai is preparing for his second album.
has also worked in a few Korean dramas like Choco Bank, Andante, and Spring Has Come. Some of his variety shows are Under Sooro’s Rovers, Honeymoon Tavern. His upcoming variety show is From the New World. Kai is the brand ambassador of the most popular fashion brand Gucci, Muse for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. He became the Global Ambassador for Seoul Fashion Week Spring 2022. This year Gucci released the Kai x Gucci Collection with men’s clothing, bags, and accessories. The style and pattern were inspired by Teddy Bear as the fans call Kai ‘Gom’ which means Bear. The fans of Kai are known as ‘Erigom’ which means L-Bears. EXO Kai is the MC for the upcoming Netflix Global Fan Event.
EXO D.O.
Do Kyungsoo from EXO is known by his stage name D.O. Do Kyungsoo was born on January 12, 1993, in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. D.O. is the main vocalist of the EXO band and is known for his soft voice. He has a huge number of fans around the globe as he is not only the main singer but also an actor. Kyungsoo made his acting debut in 2014 in the Korean movie ‘Cart’. Later, he made his debut in the TV drama It’s Okay, That’s Love. Do Kyungsoo has gained lots of praise for his work on this drama. In 2015, D.O. played the role of a psychopath in a KBS drama Hello Monster. In the 2016 movie, Pure Love he starred as the leading role along with Kim So-Hyun. His web drama Be Positive become the most-watched K-web drama of all time. He is recognized as one of the top actors after he played the role of blind Judo athlete in the movie My Annoying Brother. Some other popular movies starring EXO D.O. are Room No. 7, Along with the Gods, Swing Kids. Kyungsoo’s TV drama 100 Days My Prince was a huge success and became the fifth highest-rated K-Drama in cable TV history. D.O. was enlisted for the South Korean Mandatory Military Service on July 1, 2019 and discharged on January 25, 2021. On the enlisting day, Kyungoo released a single “That’s Okay”.Do Kyungsoo released his first solo album ‘Empathy’ on July 26, 2021, with the title track rose. The album became a huge success around the globe as the songs were in Korean, English, and Spanish language. He has won numerous awards for his acting and his fans are eagerly waiting for his upcoming movie The Secret The Unspeakable. Kyungsoo’s fans are known as Dandanie which means we are strong ones.
EXO Chen
Kim Jongdae is better known as Chen. He is the main vocalist of EXO and one of the best singers in South Korea. Jongdae was born on September 21, 1992, in Daejeon. EXO Chen is known as the king of OST. He has recorded lots of OSTs for the dramas and all the songs have become various famous. His OST “Everytime” from Descendants of the Sun and Best Luck from It’s Okay, That’s Love have become globally famous. He is a member of EXO’s sub ground CBX. His first Solo Album “April, and a Flower ” was released on March 19, 2019, and became very popular not only in Korea but around the world. A famous Bollywood singer Armaan Malik became a huge fan of Chen and EXO after listening to the song Beautiful Goodbye. Jongdae is also a songwriter and has written lots of tracks for EXO. In 2014, he won the 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival for The Best Luck in the category of Best OST by Male. Kim Jongdae won the 12th Mnet Asian Music Awards for the best collaboration with Dynamic Duo. On January 13, 2020, Jongdae announced his upcoming marriage to his pregnant fiancee. Fans were shocked by his announcement. But most of EXO-Ls appreciated his decision and congratulated him for his wedding. Chen’s first child was born on April 29, 2020. Chen EXO was enlisted for the South Korean Mandatory Military on October 26, 2020, as an active-duty soldier and will be discharged in April 2022. Chen’s fandom name is Soondingie which means the gentle ones.
EXO Xiumin
Kim Min-Seok is known by his stage name Xiumin. He is the oldest member of EXO. Xiumin was born on March 26, 1990, in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Xiumin has black belt in Taekwondo and Kendo. He loves football and also trained in Fencing and Wushu. EXO Xiumin is also an honorary ambassador of the Korea Football Association. Kim Min-Seok is the lead singer of the EXO band and a member of the sub-group CBX. In 2016, he released the OST “For You” for Moon Lovers with Baekyun and Chen. Xiumin is well known for his baby face as he is the oldest member of EXO but looks like the Maknae. Kim-Min-Seok played the leading role on a web drama Falling for Challenge. This drama became the most-watched web drama with over 20 million views in just 17 days in 2015. His debut on the big screen was as a supporting role in a South Korean movie Seondal: The Man Who Sells The River. Xiumin has worked in lots of variety shows like Travel Without Manger Drink With God, Drink With God Season 2, It’s Dangerous Beyond The Blankets, and Xiu Min’s Tennis King Tomorrow. He has also done the Theater in Army musical and in 2021 he is playing the role of Orpheus in Hadestown. In 2015, he won the 4th APAN Star Awards and in 2017 he won Click! StarWars Awards for the Most Popular Singer. Xiumin enlisted in Mandatory Military Service on May 7, 2019, as an active-duty soldier and was officially discharged on December 6, 2020. Xiumin’s fans are known as Elsas.
EXO Lay
Zhang Yixing is professionally known as Lay Zhang or Lay. He is the only Chinese member of the Chinese-Korean boy band EXO. Lay was born on October 7, 1991, in Hunan, China. Yixing is one of the most popular and successful K-POP idols. Lay is the vocalist and the lead dancer of EXO. He is not only a singer but a famous Chinese rapper, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. Zhang Yixing is the publicity ambassador for the Communist Youth League of China. He has released lots of solo songs which have become very popular in the Chinese music market. Lay is known as the lead sheep of China. His self-composed song ‘Promise’ became very popular and the lyrics show the love of EXO members towards the fans. As a Chinese member, he is less active in South Korea. Due to some political conflicts between China and South Korea, Lay was unable to work on a few EXO albums. But in 2021, Lay is back with EXO in the new album Don’t Fight The Feeling which became a million-seller. In China, Lay Zhang is one of the most popular celebrities. He has worked in lots of TV shows like We The People, To Be A Better Man, The Mystic Nine, Operation Love, The Tomb of Sea, The Golden Eyes, Empress of the Ming, Faith Makes Great, Challenges at Midlife, and Crime Crackdown. Lay has also appeared in lots of variety shows like Star Chef, Go Fighting Idol Producer, Rave Now, Youth With You, I’m CZD, We Are Young, Street Dance of China 3, Dance Smash Season 2, Youth and Melody, Back To Field Season 5, and Street Dance of China 4. Some of his popular movies are Royal Treasure, Oh My God, The Mystic Nine Side Story, The Founding Of An Army, Cars, For Love With You, and The Island. Lay Zhang has also worked in an Indian-Chinese movie with the superstar Jackie Chan and Bollywood actor Sonu Sood. Yixing is the brand ambassador of more than 30 brands including MAC Cosmetics, H&M, Calvin Klein, Ray-Ban, etc. He is the ambassador of the fashion brand Valentino and attended lots of fashion shows including the Met Gala in 2019. EXO Lay has won lots of awards for his songs and filmography. Lay fans are known as Xingmi (Lovers of Yixing).
EXO Suho
Kim Jung-Myeon known as Suho is the leader of the Korean-Chinese KPOP band EXO. He is the vocalist of the band and a songwriter. EXO Suho is known as the best leader in KPOP groups. Kim Jung-Myeon has worked in lots of K-Dramas like Prime Minister & I, The Universe’s Star, Rich Man, How Are U Bread, etc. EXO Suho is also very active in Theater activities and played roles in School OZ, The Last Kiss, and The Man Who Laughs. Jung-Myeon’s first solo album “Self-Portrait” was released on March 30, 2020. Kim Jung-Myeon has starred in lots of K-Movies like Saving Santa, One Way Trip, Middle School Girl A, The Present, etc. In 2014, he was the regular MC of Inkigayo. Suho was also cast in a travel show Fluttering India. He is the Brand Ambassador of Bvlgari and the ambassador of 13th Daegu International Musical, 4th International Film Festival and Awards, and 7th Suncheon Bay World Animal Film Festival Ambassador. Suho has won many awards like Asis Culture Awards, DIMF Awards, International Film Festival & Awards Macao, Yegreen Musical Awards, etc. Suho enlisted in Mandatory Military Service on May 14, 2020 and will be discharged on Feb 13, 2022. EXO Suho’s fans are known as Bunny Citizens or Bunnyzens.
EXO Baekhyun
Byun Baekhyun is popularly known as Baekhyun. He was born on May 6, 1992, in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Baekhyun is the main singer of EXO. He is also a member of sub-group CBX and leader of a supergroup SuperM. Byung Baekhyun has a huge fan base as he is not only a singer, but an actor, with a cute smile, intelligence, and funny nature. He released his first solo album City Lights in 2019 while as a huge success with more than half a million sales and became the best selling K-pop album of the 2010s. But this was just the start of his next album Delight (2020) with sales of over 1 million copies making him the first soloist to do so in 19 years. On March 30, 2021, Baekhyun released his fourth album, Bambi, with over a million copies sold. Byun Baekyun is the only double-million soloist in the K-POP industry. He is also known as “Genius Idol”. He has sung lots of popular OSTs for Korean dramas. Baekyun starred in one of the most popular K-Drama Moon Lovers along with IU and Lee Joongi. Some of his variety shows are Master Key and Five Cracky Brothers. He was a co-host on a music show SBS’s Inkigayo in 2014. Byun Baekhyun is the Ambassadors of Burberry and Lifeparm. In Theatre, he was also the main lead in Singin’ in the Rain. Baekhyun has won many awards like Best Male Singer (2020), Individual Popularity Award (2017), Most Popular Singer (2017), Best Idol Actor (2017), Best Collaboration (2018) and many more. On May 6, 2021, Byun Baekhyun enlisted in the Mandatory Military Service. For his fans, Baekhyun has shot YouTube videos which release on the 17th of every month. His new OST “Is It Me” from Lovers of the Red Sky also became a super hit. Baekyun will be discharged from his Military service on Feb 5, 2023. Byun Baekhyun’s fans are known as Erikyoongs.
EXO Chanyeol
Park Chan-Yeol is popularly known as Chanyeol or Loey. He was born on November 27, 1992. Chanyeol is the main rapper and songwriter of the band. Loey is also a member of EXO’s sub-unit EXO-SC. Apart from the group activities, Chanyeol has worked in lots of K-Dramas, movies and variety shows. Park Chanyeol’s OST “Stay With Me” from Goblin (2016) K-Drama became the most viewed OST in Korean Drama history with over 300 Million views. Some of his top movies are So I Married an Anti-Fan and The Box. Chanyeol has also worked in lots of K-Dramas like Missing 9, Memories of the Alhambra, Secret Queen Makers, Royal Villa, etc. Loey also did a few Variety shows such as Law of the Jungle, Roommate, Master Key, Salty Tour, etc. Park Chanyeol won many awards for his OST and also won the Most Popular Foreign Idol awards. He enlisted in Mandatory Military Service on March 29, 2021, and will be discharged in September 2022. Like Baekyun, Chanyeol has also recorded videos that are released on the 27th of every month. He is also known as “Happy Virus”. Chanyeol’s fans are known as Yeolmaes which means berries.
EXO Sehun
Oh Se-Hun is known as Sehun and he is the lead rapper, singer, actor, songwriter, model, and dancer. Sehun is the Maknae (youngest member) of EXO as was born on April 12, 1994. Maknae Sehun is well known for his fashion and was announced as the Best Dressed Man in Louis Vuitton’s show in 2017 and 2018. Oh Sehun is the brand ambassador of the luxury brand Dior. He is a member of the sub-unit EXO-SC. Along with the group activity, Sehun also played roles in TV dramas and movies like Catman, Secret Queen Makers, Dokgo Rewind, Royal Villa. Some of his variety shows are Busted!, Coffee Friends, On Rent: House On Wheels. Sehun’s upcoming drama is Now, We Are Breaking Up. Oh Sehun has won lots of awards such as Best Idol Actor, Overseas Male Artist Award, Most Popular Artist Tonight, Global Icon, Weibo Kpop Star Award, Starpay Popularity Awards etc. EXO Sehun’s fans are known as Xunqis which means The Knights of Sehun.
EXO Discography
The first full-length album XOXO was released on June 3, 2013. Later on the repackaged version, the Growl was released on August 5, 2013, which became popular around the world and also peaked at number 3 the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100. This album got the sale of over a million copies and became the first SK group to do so after 12 years. In December 2013, EXO released the special winter album Miracles in December. Overdose was the 2nd Album of EXO and was released on May 7, 2014. The second album of EXO “Exodus” was released with repackaging on June 3, 2015. Ex’act was the third album of EXO and was released on August 18, 2016. Their next album was The War which was released on September 5, 2017. EXO’s fifth album was Don’t Mess Up My Tempo, released on December 13m 2018. In the year 2019, EXO released another album Obsession.
Along with these discographies, there are several extended plays of EXO like Overdose, Sing for You, For Life, Universe, and the latest Don’t Fight The Feeling on June 7, 2021. Including the latest album, EXO became a sextuple million seller! EXO also has lots of songs in Chinese and Japanese.
Facts about EXO
- EXO holds the record of Fastest Selling Concert Tickets. The tickets for EXO Planet #3- ElyXion at Gocheok Sky Dome (66000 tickets) was sold out in 0.2 seconds!
- EXO also has a web drama “EXO Next Door” starring all members of EXO.
- EXO has also performed at the closing ceremony in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
- EXO fans are known as EXO-L as the L stands for Love. EXO-Ls are also known as Eris as the L sounds Er in Korean.
- The official lightstick of EXO is known as Eribong.
- EXO’s Miracles in December is the best winter album of all time.
- The EXO band has a unique concept where all the members are from the EXO planet and have special powers.
- EXO and X-EXO are two different concepts where the EXO is the good one whereas X-EXO is the evil clone.
- Many organizations like the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Prime Minister’s Commendation, Star of Korean Tourism have honoured EXO.
- Ryan Reynolds is an EXO honorary member.
- In Forbes, EXO was ranked 1 in 2015 and 2016.
- Power song by EXO becomes the first K-POP song to play at The Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa Lake.
- EXO met the former US President Donald Trump in 2019.
- There are lots of other fun facts about EXO and EXO members like the best beverage of Kyungsoo is water!