Exo is a South Korean boy band formed by SM Entertainment in 2011. They debuted in 2012 with nine members. Exo-K and Exo-M were the initial sub-units, later merged into one group. The group has achieved commercial success with million-selling albums and international recognition. They have won multiple awards and are considered influential in the K-pop industry.
Kim Min-seok, also known as Xiumin, joined EXO-M in 2008 after winning second place in the S.M. Everysing Contest. He is the oldest member to join EXO.
Lay was born on October 7, 1991 in Changsha, Hunan, China.
Baekhyun, a member of the South Korean boy band Exo, was born on May 6, 1992 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. He showed interest in singing from a young age and began training at 11 years old.
Chen was born on September 21, 1992, in Siheung, Gyeonggi, South Korea. He is also a member of the group and known for his vocal skills.
Kim Jongin, widely known as Kai, was born on January 14, 1994. He is a prominent South Korean singer, dancer, and actor, recognized as one of the main dancers of EXO-K.
Sehun, a member of the South Korean boy band EXO, was born in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, South Korea on April 12, 1994. He later graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul in February 2013.
EXO, a popular South Korean-Chinese boy band, made their debut on April 8, 2011, captivating audiences with their music and performances.
Chen was formally introduced as the last member of the South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO in 2011.
EXO-K and EXO-M's prologue single 'What Is Love' was released in mainland China and South Korea on January 30, 2012. The single peaked at number 88 on South Korea's Gaon Single Chart.
The prologue single 'History' by EXO-K and EXO-M was released on March 9, 2012.
SM Entertainment announced the release of 'HISTORY', a prologue single by EXO-K and EXO-M, on March 26, 2012. This announcement was made through a press release.
A concert by the group took place at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul. Approximately 3,000 fans out of 8,000 were selected to attend.
A second concert was held in the great Hall of Beijing University of Economics and Business.
Exo-K and Exo-M's first mini album title song 'MAMA' was released worldwide on April 7, 2012. This release contributed to their growing popularity in the music industry.
Their debut single, Mama, was released. The mandarin version of Mama reached number two on China's Sina Album Chart, while the Korean album peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart and number eight on the Billboard World Albums Chart. The mandarin version of the 'Mama' music video reached number one on Chinese streaming websites. The Korean version reached number seven on YouTube's Global Chart.
EXO, the South Korean-Chinese boy band, made their debut on April 8, 2012, with the release of their extended play 'Mama', marking the beginning of their rise to K-pop stardom.
EXO officially debuted on April 12th, 2012 with their mini album 'Mama'. This marked the beginning of their journey as a prominent South Korean boy group.
The group's first studio album, XOXO, was released on June 3, 2013, in two versions: one in Korean and one in Mandarin. XOXO was jointly promoted by both sub-units. All versions of XOXO collectively sold over one million copies, making Exo the first South Korean artists to reach that milestone in 12 years.
Exo released their first studio album, XOXO.
'Growl' was released on August 1, 2013. It is a repackaged version of XOXO, with three additional tracks. The single reached number one on all four of Korea's major music programs and peaked at number three on Billboard's Korea K-Pop Hot 100.
A repackaged version of the album, Growl, was released on August 5, 2013, with three additional tracks. All versions of XOXO collectively sold over one million copies, making Exo the first South Korean artists to reach that milestone in 12 years.
On August 18, 2013, EXO achieved first place on 'The Music Trend', beating senior singers 2NE1 and f(x). This win showcased their rising dominance in the K-Pop scene.
On October 14, 2013, EXO-M was active on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. This reflected their efforts to engage with a wider audience beyond Korea.
Exo's Showtime, a reality show, was first aired on November 28, 2013. This also helped jump start their album promotions.
Baekhyun, Chen and D.O. sang the single main of the album 'Miracles in December' in M! Countdown on December 5, 2013.
In December 2013, all versions of XOXO collectively sold over 1,000,000 copies, making EXO the first Korean artist to achieve this feat in twelve years. This broke the record for being the fastest-selling K-pop act and earned EXO the Album of the Year award at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
EXO released their EP Overdose on May 7, 2014. The album showcased their musical versatility and contributed to their growing influence in the K-pop genre.
On May 15, 2014, Kris filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to terminate his contract. He alleged that the company disregarded his health and maintained unfair profit distributions.
Kris from EXO-M expressed his desire to leave and filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, sparking significant attention and discussions.
On May 24, the group embarked on their first headlining tour, Exo from Exoplanet 1 – The Lost Planet, at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena. Tickets for the concert sold out in 1.47 seconds, breaking the record for the quickest concert sell-out by a Korean artist.
On October 10, Luhan filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to terminate his contract, citing health problems and different treatment than the group's Korean members.
Luhan announced his plans to depart from EXO, leading to widespread interest and concern among fans and the industry.
Episode 9 of EXO 90:2014 was broadcasted on October 17, 2014.
EXO was recognized as the bestselling K-pop artist in Japan for the year 2014, highlighting their success and influence in the Japanese music market.
On December 22, Exo released their first live album, Exology Chapter 1: The Lost Planet. The album's single, 'December, 2014 (The Winter's Tale)', peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart, making it Exo's first number one.
In January 2015, EXO announced their second solo concert, titled EXO From. EXOPLANET #2 - The EXO'luXion. The concert series, which commenced on March 7 at the Olympic Park Stadium in Seoul, attracted 1.2 million fans attempting to purchase tickets online.
On February 4, 2015, S.M. Entertainment filed a counter-suit against Kris and Luhan for allegedly continuing their promotions in China illegally. The lawsuit aimed to halt their acting and advertisement activities under the S.M. trademark.
Exo started their second headlining world tour, Exoplanet 2 – The Exo'luxion, at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul.
The main single 'Call Me Baby' from EXO's album 'Exodus' was released on March 27, 2015, due to leaked versions of the song. The music video was released four days later, receiving millions of views within 24 hours for both Korean and Mandarin versions.
On March 30, 2015, EXO released their second album 'Exodus' in Mandarin and Korean versions. The album achieved remarkable success with domestic sales exceeding 500,000 within 24 hours, setting a new sales record.
The South Korean web series 'EXO Next Door' was released on April 9, 2015. It features the popular K-pop group EXO and revolves around the story of a girl who lives next door to the members of EXO.
EXO gifted their fans with the release of 'Miracle In December', which garnered attention and acclaim.
EXO's first concert tickets were in such high demand that they sold out in less than 2 seconds, demonstrating the immense popularity of the group.
Tao filed a lawsuit against his agency, claiming that his health had been neglected and he had been overworked. This led to his departure from the boy band EXO.
S.M. Entertainment released an official statement regarding Tao's departure, expressing their intention to negotiate with Tao and his father. After failed negotiations, Tao filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment on August 24 for the termination of his exclusive contract.
On May 15, 2015, S.M. Entertainment confirmed that Kris, the leader of EXO, filed a lawsuit against the agency, citing violation of human rights as the main reason.
EXO released the music video for 'Love Me Right' as part of their repackaged album.
Exo released a repackaged version of Exodus, titled Love Me Right, which sold over one million copies and included the single 'Love Me Right'.
EXO launched their 2nd album 'EXODUS', marking a significant milestone in their music career and showcasing their artistic growth.
On August 15, 2015, Tao filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment and formally left Exo on March 15, 2018.
Z.Tao, an estranged member of EXO, reportedly sued SM Entertainment for contract termination. This news was covered by KPOP Starz on August 24, 2015.
EXO's album 'EXODUS' achieved remarkable success by reaching 500k in pre-sale and dominating the iTunes charts globally, underscoring their international influence.
A special camping episode featuring EXO was aired on LINETV in October 2015.
On November 4, 2015, EXO released their first Japanese single Love Me Right ~romantic universe~, which included the Japanese version of their Korean title track 'Love Me Right' and an original Japanese song 'Drop That'. The single achieved great success, selling 147,000 copies on the day of its release and topping the Oricon Charts, making EXO the Korean artist with the all-time best selling debut single in Japan.
EXO performed for 145,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome from November 6-8th, breaking the record for the shortest amount of time since debut to hold a concert at the dome.
EXO collaborated with Star Wars: The Force Awakens as part of the collaboration between S.M. Entertainment and Walt Disney. The single 'Lightsaber' was released with a special film to promote the movie ahead of its release in Korea.
Tao's father made an emotional plea to SM Entertainment, leading to rumors of a potential lawsuit, indicating a possible legal dispute or conflict involving the group.
EXO announced the promotion of 'Sing For You' and 'Unfair' as a double single.
Exo released their second winter special release and fourth EP, Sing for You, containing the singles 'Sing for You' and 'Unfair', with part of the profits donated to UNICEF's Smile For U campaign.
EXO adjusted the dates for their North American tour and decided to perform without Lay.
At the end of 2015, EXO was ranked number 7 in the list of the top ten pop culture leaders of 2015 by prominent entertainment industry leaders.
In February 2016, EXO held their first North American EXO'luXion tour which took place in Dallas, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
EXO secured the top spot in Forbes Korea's 'Power Celebrities' list for 2016.
A promotional video for EXO's appearance on Fantastic Duo 3 was released on April 11, 2016.
On April 12, 2016, a trailer related to LAY's project 'OLD NINE GATES' was reblogged without subtitles.
EXO announced their comeback with double title tracks and released new individual teaser images.
On June 3, 2016, EXO's teaser for 'Lucky One' achieved 1 million views in less than 12 hours, showcasing the immense anticipation for the release.
EXO released their third full-length album Ex'act, featuring double title tracks 'Lucky One' and 'Monster'. The album broke the group's own record for the highest first-week sales of a Korean artist.
EXO made an appearance on KBS on June 10, 2016. This could include performances, interviews, or other related activities.
EXO appeared on MBC on June 11, 2016. This could involve performances, interviews, or other related events.
On June 12, 2016, EXO made an appearance on SBS. This might include performances, interviews, or other related engagements.
On June 14, 2016, EXO achieved their first No. 1 on World Digital Songs with 'Monster', signifying a significant accomplishment for the group.
EXO announced their third concert tour, EXO Planet #3 – The Exo'rdium, which marked the longest solo concert series in Seoul by a K-pop artist.
On June 19, 2016, EXO's 3rd album surpassed 660,000 pre-orders, marking a historic milestone for the group.
On June 24, 2016, EXO made history in the fashion industry, leaving an indelible mark with their feature in a new fashion magazine.
On July 15, S.M. Entertainment and Putto Entertainment launched an official mobile game of EXO, EXORUN. This event marked EXO's expansion into the gaming industry and engagement with fans through interactive digital platforms.
On July 21, Kris and Luhan officially separated from EXO. This departure had a significant impact on EXO and its fan base, leading to changes in the group dynamics and fan loyalty.
EXO began their third tour, EXO FROM. EXOPLANET # 3 - The EXO'rDIUM, with over 84,000 attendees at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, setting a record for the first artist to hold six consecutive concerts at the venue.
There were rumors in July 2016 that Xiumin, Chanyeol, and Sehun would form EXO's first sub-unit, with the debut song '같이해' yet to be released.
In August 2016, EXO held their 6th performance at a gymnastics arena, drawing in an audience of 84,000 people.
EXO introduced a brand new official lightstick for their fanclub, EXO-Ls, and fans in August 2016.
In August 2016, EXO started gearing up for the release of their repackaged album 'LOTTO'.
A repackaged edition of Ex'Act, titled Lotto, was released, making Exo's third million seller album and earning the group the title of 'triple million sellers'.
EXO released their 2nd Japanese single 'Coming Over' on September 7, 2016.
EXO released their song 'Dancing King' with Yoo Jae-suk along with a music video for SM Station, which ranked number two on Gaon Digital Chart and number one on Gaon Download Chart.
In the 39th week of 2016, EXO's performance on the digital chart was notable.
A teaser for EXO's 2nd Japanese single 'Coming Over' was leaked in October 2016.
SM Entertainment announced the formation of the sub-unit EXO-CBX, consisting of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin. Their first mini album, Hey Mama!, was released on October 31.
EXO released their second Japanese single, 'Coming Over', followed by their third special winter album, For Life, nearly two weeks later.
EXO released the winter special 'For Life' on December 14, 2016.
EXO released 'For Life', their fifth EP and third Christmas album.
On May 25, during a press conference at the Olympic Stadium of Jamsil in Seoul, the group announced their comeback in summer.
The tour ended with the second of two consecutive concerts at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, bringing the band's total number of concerts to over 100.
Baekhyun of EXO announced the title track of their new album on May 29, 2017.
EXO performed at the Dream Concert on June 3, 2017. The group showcased their talent and entertained the audience with their music and dance performances.
On June 13, 2017, SM Entertainment announced that Lay would not be participating in activities for Exo's upcoming album due to conflicting schedules with his solo activities.
SM Entertainment announced that EXO would be making a comeback with their fourth full-length album The War and its title track 'Ko Ko Bop'.
Exo's fourth studio album The War was released on July 18, 2017. The album received 807,235 pre-orders, surpassing the band's own record of 660,000 for Ex'Act.
EXO confirmed the release of a repackaged album in September, as of August 21, 2017.
On August 29, the 2018 edition of the Guinness World Records named Exo as having won the 'Most Daesang' awards at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
EXO announced the release of the repackaged album on August 30, 2017.
A repackage album of The War, titled The War: The Power of Music, was released, contributing to the total album sales of 1.6 million copies.
On October 19, they announced their fourth tour titled EXO Planet#4 - The EℓyXiOn, which would begin with three concerts in Seoul from November 24 to 26, 2017.
On November 3, 2017, Exo received a Prime Minister Commendation at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, in recognition of public service and/or excellence in a given field.
EXO began their fourth tour, EXO Planet #4 – The EℓyXiOn, which eventually concluded on August 11, 2018.
On December 5, 2017, EXO released the short music video for Electric Kiss on YouTube, the title track for Countdown.
On December 14, 2017, SM Entertainment confirmed that EXO will be releasing a winter album titled Universe on December 21, 2017.
EXO released their fourth special winter album, Universe, as a tribute to labelmate Jonghyun, which was delayed due to his passing.
EXO's song 'Power' became the first K-pop song to play at The Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa Lake, Dubai, marking a significant achievement for the group.
It was announced on November 4, 2017 through the Japanese EXO website, that the group would release their first Japanese album entitled Countdown on January 24, 2018.
EXO released their first Japanese full-length album Countdown, which debuted atop the Oricon Weekly Chart, making them the first non-Japanese group to achieve this.
EXO performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang as representatives of the K-pop genre, alongside CL.
Blooming Days is the second extended play by South Korean-Chinese subunit EXO-CBX, which was released on April 10, 2018. The album features seven tracks, including the title track 'Blooming Day'.
Lay made his U.S. debut with the release of 'Namanana', which topped the Billboard World Albums and Independent Albums chart, and placed 21st on the Billboard 200, setting a record as the highest charting Chinese pop artist to date.
EXO released their fifth full-length album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, which sold over 1,179,997 copies within a month of its release, making them 'quintuple million sellers'.
Love Shot was released on December 13, a repacked version of Don't Mess Up My Tempo, with the lead single, also titled 'Love Shot', becoming Exo's third number one single on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.
Member Xiumin enlisted for his mandatory military service on May 7, 2019, followed by D.O. on July 1.
EXO announced their fifth concert tour EXO Planet #5 – The EXplØration, which concluded on December 31, visiting fans across Asia.
It was announced that two members, Chanyeol and Sehun, would debut as the group's second sub-unit EXO-SC, with their debut mini album, What a Life, released on July 22.
D.O. enlisted for his military service on July 1, 2019, and completed it on January 25, 2021.
Baekhyun debuted as the group's third soloist with the release of his EP, City Lights, on July 10.
Despite setbacks and the loss of three members, EXO's career momentum has not slowed down. The group has achieved significant success domestically and internationally, maintaining their popularity worldwide.
Exo's sixth studio album, Obsession, was released on November 27, 2019.
SM Entertainment announced that EXO would be taking a break from group activities to prioritize its members' mandatory military duties.
On March 30, 2020, Suho debuted as a soloist with his EP Self-Portrait.
Suho enlisted on May 14, 2020, and completed his military service on February 13, 2022.
Chen enlisted on October 26, 2020, and completed his military service on April 25, 2022.
Kai debuted as a soloist with his self-titled EP on November 30, 2020.
Chanyeol enlisted on March 29, 2021, and was discharged on September 28, 2022.
On April 8, 2021, Exo celebrated their ninth anniversary by showcasing the filming of their upcoming music video and announcing the preparation for a new album to be released in the first half of the year.
Baekhyun enlisted on May 6, 2021, and completed his military service on February 5, 2023.
On May 26, 2021, Lay was reported to be returning to Exo to take part in their special album, Don't Fight the Feeling.
EXO released a special mini album titled Don't Fight the Feeling in celebration of their ninth debut anniversary, which sold over 1 million copies in eight days.
D.O. debuted as a soloist with his EP Empathy on July 26, 2021.
EXO member Sehun is set to enlist in the military on December 21. This marks a significant event for both the Kpop industry and EXO fans.
Lay announced he would be leaving SM Entertainment after deciding not to renew his contract, but he would remain a member of EXO.
On April 8, 2022, Exo celebrated their tenth anniversary with the premiere of a new season of their reality show and a special fan meeting.
EXO celebrated their 10th anniversary. The nature of the celebration is not detailed.
Sehun, a member of EXO, posted a photo or message on his Instagram account featuring the group EXO. The specific content is not provided.
Xiumin became the seventh member to debut as a soloist with his extended play Brand New on September 26, 2022.
Suho, a member of EXO, shared a post on his Instagram account. The details of the update are not mentioned.
On January 13, 2023, EXO members were involved in military service and lawsuits against SM Entertainment. This event marked a significant period of transition and legal disputes for the group.
Baekhyun completed his military service on February 5, 2023.
EXO announced a fanmeeting, titled 2023 EXO Fanmeeting "EXO' Clock", in celebration of their 11th debut anniversary. The fanmeeting was held on April 8 and 9 at KSPO Dome in Seoul.
Exo celebrated their 11th debut anniversary with a fan meeting at the KSPO Dome on April 8–9, 2023.
Kai enlisted on May 11, 2023.
On June 1, 2023, Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin revealed the termination of their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment, indicating their departure from the company.
A pre-release track, titled "Let Me In", was released on June 12, 2023.
Lay announced his departure from SM Entertainment through a handwritten letter.
The track "Hear Me Out" was released on June 30, 2023.
EXO's comeback in the music industry was confirmed for July 9th.
EXO's comeback in the music industry was confirmed for July 10th.
Chen announced his marriage, and it was confirmed that there would be no change in the EXO members.
EXO appeared on the music show Inkigayo for a performance or interview. The specific details are not provided.
Sehun & Chanyeol released 'What a Life' as a new unit on July 22nd.
It was confirmed on October 18 that D.O. would be leaving SM Entertainment as his contract with them is set to expire in early November, although he will continue to be part of EXO.
Sehun was the final member to enlist on December 21, 2023.
On January 7, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that members Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen will carry out their solo activities and EXO-CBX activities under Baekhyun's newly established label "I&B 100", while remaining members of EXO.
On January 14, 2024, changes occurred within the EXO-CBX agency. This event may have influenced the group's sub-unit activities and organizational structure.