EXO (엑소) is a South Korean-Chinese boy group consisting of 9 members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. The group made their official debut on April 8, 2012 under SM Entertainment with their debut single "MAMA."
The group originally had 12 members, split into 2 sub-units, EXO-M and EXO-K, who promoted the group's singles in Mandarin and Korean, respectively. They began to combine the two sub-units for promotions of "Wolf" and "Growl," and after members Kris, Luhan and Tao left, the sub-units were abandoned.
EXO has set records and won awards in South Korea and around the world with its highly acclaimed discography and distinctive powerhouse vocals, while its creative and innovative choreography has inspired and been covered by many K-pop groups.
EXO also launched two additional sub-units, EXO-CBX and EXO-SC, featuring the group's members in different styles of music than the core group.
Due to mandatory military service, the two sub-units are inactive and the main group currently has 7 active members: Xiumin, Suho, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun.
II. MEMBERS
Members(Oldest to Youngest)
Information
Xiumin (시우민) Real Name: Kim Min-seok (김민석) Birthdate: March26, 1990 Zodiac Sign: Aries Nationality: South Korean
Position: Sub Vocalist, Sub Rapper Official Number: 99 Power: Frost Social Media: Instagram
Suho (수호) Real Name: Kim Jun-myeon (김준면) Birthdate: May 22, 1991 Zodiac Sign: Gemini MBTI: ENFJ-A Nationality: South Korean
Position:Leader, Lead Vocalist, Visual Official Number: 1 Power: Water Social Media: Instagram
Lay (레이) Real Name: Zhang Yixing (张艺兴) Birthdate: October 7, 1991 Zodiac Sign: Libra Nationality: Chinese
Position: Main Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Sub Rapper Official Number: 10 Power: Healing (Unicorn) Social Media:Instagram, Twitter, Weibo, Youtube
Baekhyun (백현) Real Name: Byun Baek-hyun (변백현) Birthdate: May 6, 1992 Zodiac Sign: Taurus MBTI: ISFP Nationality: South Korean
D.O. (디오) Real Name: Do Kyung Soo (도경수) Birthdate: January 12, 1993 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn Nationality: South Korean
Position: Main Vocalist Official Number: 12 Power: Force
Kai (카이) Real Name: Kim Jong-In (김종인) Birthdate: January 14, 1994 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn MBTI: INFJ Nationality: South Korean
Position: Main Dancer, Sub Rapper, Sub Vocalist, Center, Visual Official Number: 88 Power: Teleportation Social Media:Instagram
Sehun (세훈) Real Name:Oh Se-hun (오세훈) Birthdate: April 12, 1994 Zodiac Sign: Aries MBTI: INTP Nationality: South Korean
Position: Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, Visual, Maknae Official Number: 94 Power: Wind Social Media:Instagram, Weibo
III. EXO MYTHOS
EXO maintains a mythos, first introduced in its debut video, "Mama." Members of EXO represent aliens from another planet, EXOplanet, combatting evil across multiple timelines. Each member has designated powers, and the mythos extends throughout the group's music videos, tours and promotions.
In EXO's first single, the 12 members of the two units are introduced through a narrated backstory.
"When the skies and the grounds were one, the legends, through their twelve forces, nurtured the Tree of Life. An Eye of Red Force created the evil which covered the heart of the Tree of Life, and the heart slowly grew dry. To tend and embrace the heart of the Tree of Life, the legends hereby divide the tree in half and hide each side. Hence time is over-turned and space turns askew.
The twelve forces divide into two and create two suns that look alike, into two worlds that seem alike. The legends travel apart. The legends shall now see the same sky, but shall stand on different grounds, shall stand on the same ground but shall see different skies. The day the grounds begat a single file before one sky in two worlds that seem alike, the legends will greet each other. The day the Red Force is purified, the twelve forces will reunite into one perfect root. A new world shall open up."
OVERDOSE:
EXO members are trapped in a huge maze (possibly by the Red Force) that they are trying to escape. The maze motif/octagon is repeated throughout EXO imagery.
PATHCODE:
A series of teasers that showcases the member's powers prior to the release of the Exodus album and references the members' powers and hints of what is happening in the universe.
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Members utilize their powers as they escape from experimentation in a secret lab, and perhaps cloning.
KO KO BOP:
Although this MV does not seem as obviously connected, members do use their powers casually, like Chen playing with electricity between two wires. There is a license plate that reads L-1485. 1485 is the date of the launch of the EXO-L fan club.
POWER:
Members are battling an evil robot. The robot that is chasing the members has a red eye, like the "Eye of Red Force," and members get their individual power orbs, activated by the white cat. Some see this as a "prequel" to the universe or that it occurs after "Mama". The video also references Planet 1485. The cat potentially represents EXO-Ls since its collar has an L.
TEMPO
White cubes appear with seeming powers, as well as scenes that resemble "Lucky One" with bodies pressed against white walls.
LOVE SHOT
Red cubes appear, which may be tied into the Red Force.
MONSTER
Members are captured and beaten, but are helped to escape.
OBSESSION
EXO meets and battles X-EXO, their evil doppelgängers or clones.
DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING
Although it was announced that the MV was a continuation or sequel to "Power," it is unclear how it fits into the universe, other than EXO is on a spaceship and Lay is in a separate place from the other members. Teasers to the song implied that members were driving a spaceship and also split up across different planets, perhaps having crash-landed escaping the Red Force in "Power."
It is believed the MVs are not necessarily in chronological order, while other aspects like concert VCRs add additional elements, and other videos contain ongoing themes like eclipses. SM later announced that EXO's universe connected with a larger universe with Red Velvet, NCT, aespa and other SM groups.
IV. CAREER
IVI. Debut and Early Years - 2011-2013
In 2011, SM Entertainment announced plans for a new boy group that would be divided into sub-groups, promoting simultaneously in South Korea and China. The group was formed with 12 members, split into two sub-units, EXO-K (Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun) who performed in Korean and promoted in Korea, and EXO-M (Xiumin, Lay, Chen, Kris, Luhan and Tao) who performed in Mandarin and promoted in China.
The group's first single "Mama" debuted on April 8, 2012, with a dramatic video that provided the group's mythos, followed by the EP Mama the following day. Each sub-unit promoted the EP separately, with the Korean EP debuting at #1 in Korea and the Chinese EP at #2 in China. EXO went on to earn its first awards from Mnet Asian Music Awards and the Golden Disc Awards.
The group released its first full album on June 3, 2013, XOXO, again in Korean and Mandarin versions. The album's lead single "Wolf" and its accompanying iconic choreography became EXO's first music show win and reached #10 on the Gaon Digital Chart and #4 on U.S. Billboard World Digital Songs.
A repackage album, Growl, was released on August 5, 2013 with three additional tracks, including a new single, "Growl," that would become one of EXO's signature songs. Growl reached #2 on the Gaon Digital Chart and #3 on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100. All versions of XOXO collectively sold over 1 million copies, making EXO the first South Korean artists in 12 years to reach this achievement.
EXO also released its first winter album, Miracles in December, in December 2013. It also launched its first reality show, EXO's Showtime, as well as winning more awards from Melon Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, Seoul Music Awards and Top Chinese Music Awards.
IVII. Growing Success and Member Departures - 2014-15
EXO's third EP Overdose was released on May 7, 2014 in both Korean and Chinese versions. This was the last release to feature the two sub-units. The album became the most pre-ordered Korean EP in history, and debuted at #129 on the U.S. Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting male Korean group at that time. The EP topped the Korean chart year-end charts and became the best-selling release of the year, as well as earning more awards.
Kris filed a lawsuit against SM to terminate his contract in May 2014, while EXO embarked on its first concert tour, EXO from EXO-Planet 1 - the Lost Planet, with tickets selling out in a record 1.47 seconds. Later in the year, Luhan also filed a lawsuit against SM during the tour. A live album of the tour was released at the end of the year, EXOLOGY CHAPTER 1 - THE LOST PLANET.
EXO launched its second world tour, Exo Planet #2 - The EXO'luxion, in March 2015, as well as releasing its second full album, Exodus, on March 30, 2015. The album was released in Korean and Mandarin versions, under the full group EXO, rather than the sub-units. Domestic preorders surpassed the previously set record. The album spent 4 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Gaon Album Chart and sold over 1 million copies, EXO's second consecutive album. It also reached #95 on the U.S. Billboard chart, becoming the highest charting Korean artist at the time, and became the first K-pop group to chart in Canada.
Tao also filed lawsuit against SM and was not involved in promotions for Exodus. EXO released a repackage, Love Me Right, which included four new songs. Now performing as nine members, EXO continued to break records: the first artists to hold a dome concert in South Korea, the all-time best selling debut single in Japan by a Korean artist for Love Me Right ~romantic universe~, the highest first week sales by a Korean artist for its 2015 winter album Sing For You and becoming the first Korean artists to appear on the Apple Music homepage. EXO also continued to win awards.
Additionally, EXO continued to appear in several reality and variety shows, while also creating a special single "Lightsaber" in partnership with Disney to tie into the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
IVIII. Worldwide Acclaim: 2016-2018
EXO released its third album, Ex'Act, breaking its own record for both highest preorders and highest first week sales. The album sold over 1.7 million copies two months after its original release, the third time EXO had achieved this milestone. The Korean and Mandarin versions of the album debuted at #1 and #2 on the Gaon charts, while EXO was the most streamed group in Korea in 2016 with the lead single "Monster" the most streamed song of the year on Melon and Genie. It also reached #2 on the U.S. World Album Charts as well as charting in Japan and France. "Monster" became EXO's first #1 song on the U.S. Billboard World Digital Songs Chart, while the next single "Lucky One" reached #3. The album also continued to win awards, including EXO's fourth consecutive Album of the Year Daesang from MAMA and the Golden Disc Awards.
EXO launched its third headline tour, EXO PLANET #3 - The EXO'rdium, as well as announcing that Lay would not make appearance or recordings with the group to focus on his conflicting solo projects. EXO continued to release record-breaking Japanese singles, a chart-topping repackage Lotto and another chart-topping winter album, For Life.
Members began releasing solo songs and collaborations, while EXO debuted a new sub-unit, EXO-CBX, which included Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin with an uptempo, high energy musical style. The group's Korean EP, Hey Mama!, debuted on top of the Gaon and U.S. Billboard World Album Charts in October 2016. The group's Japanese EP, Girls, debuted at #2 on the Oricon charts in May 2017.
EXO released its fourth full album, The War, on July 18, 2017, again breaking their own record for preorders and first week sales. It debuted at #1 on the Gaon Charts, and reached 1 million copies sold 24 days after its release. The album also debuted on the top of Chinese, Japanese Oricon and U.S. Billboard World Album Charts. It also broke into the U.S. Billboard 200 and charted in New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, the UK and France. It also reached #1 on the iTunes chart in 42 countries. The album repackage, The War: The Power of Music, also topped Chinese and Korean charts, as well as 41 countries on iTunes.
EXO completed the year with live album of the EXO'rdium tour, a new tour EXO PLANET #4: The ElyXiOn and an annual winter EP, Universe.
In 2018, EXO began another record-setting year as their song "Power" became the first K-pop song to play at the famed Dubai Fountain Dubai. The group also released their first Japanese studio album Countdown, which debuted at #1 on the Oricon Chart and was certified gold 10 days later. Additionally, they released a live album of the ElyXiOn tour.
The group also became the first K-pop artists to perform at the Olympics, along with CL, during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea. Baekhyun also sang the national anthem at the opening ceremony.
EXO's fifth album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, sold over 1.1 million copies within a month of release, making the group the first to surpass 10 million total album sales in South Korea. It also became the group's highest charting album on the Billboard 200, debuting at #23, as well as its fourth #1 album on the World Albums Chart. It sold over 1.9 million copies in 2018 and remains their best-selling album. It is also the last full album to feature all 9 members. A repackage, Love Shot, was released in November 2018. With its release, EXO became a fifth-time million-selling group, as well as the first act in South Korea to sell 10 million copies across all albums. The iconic choreography of "Love Shot" makes it EXO's most viewed video.
The group also appeared in several reality/variety shows, including EXO Arcade and Travel the World on EXO's Ladder.
EXO- CBX released a Japanese album, Magic, that topped the Oricon charts, a Korean EP, Blooming Days, that topped the Korean charts, and embarked on a Japanese tour in the spring of 2018.
IVIV. Military Enlistment and Solo Work - 2019-present
With impending military enlistments, members began to release solo and sub-unit albums, as well as participating in special group projects, like SuperM, to success, critical acclaim and record-setting sales.
EXO debuted a new sub-unit, EXO-SC, featuring Chanyeol and Sehun and songs with a greater hip-hop emphasis. The unit's debut EP, What a Life, topped the Gaon charts, while also charting in Japan, the U.S., China and France. The EP also won a bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards.
EXO launched the EXO PLANET #5 - EXplOration tour, which also included several of the members' solo songs. EXO released its sixth full album, Obsession, on November 27, 2019 with a six-member lineup of Suho, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, Kai and Sehun. The album topped the Gaon charts, finishing #3 for the year, as well as charting in Japan, the UK, Belgium and Australia. The album also not only topped the U.S. Billboard World Album Charts, but also charted in the Billboard 200.
Suho and Chen enlisted, while EXO-SC released its first full album, 1 Billion Views, which reached #1 on Gaon and certified 2x Platinum, as well as charting in Japan and the U.K.
In 2020, EXO released a live album of the EXplOration tour, while Xiumin was discharged at the end of the year. Chanyeol and Baekhyun enlisted in 2021, while D.O. was discharged. Prior to enlistment and on the group's 9th anniversary, they announced a new album and music video would debut later in the year featuring 6 members: Xiumin, Baekhyun, D.O., Chanyeol, Kai and Sehun. The special album Don't Fight the Feeling was released on June 7, debuting at #1 on the Gaon Charts, #3 on the Oricon Charts and #8 in the U.S. The album went onto be EXO's sixth million selling album, with over 1.2 million albums sold in Korea as of July 22, 2021. The album also sold 475,410 in China. The eponymous title track reached #15 on Gaon and #6 on U.S. Billboard. The album also featured a special surprise: the return of Lay for the first time since 2017 on both the album's songs and the MV of the title track, although the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from filming in Korea with the other members.
As of November 2022, there are 7 active EXO members: Xiumin, Suho, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun.
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okk! You can easily click edit whenever you want to add something. It will not update at first because a staff member has to approve it. Its not me that has to approve it just so you know!
Comments 43
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sveznalica
Now this is really well made lexicon
sveznalica
It looks like I come here every month to say how well made is this lexicon
haesoovoiceship
That's a great work
No wonder coming from our number 1 guild leader
And wow this is the most viewed lexicon
You make us proud Kireta
Kireta
It wasnt mee. I just posted the article but the101, hirae and bumble contributed a lot to it
haesoovoiceship
Thank 101, Hiraeth and Bumble
motorp77
Well designed, idk if its cool to put every exo mvs on this page without spoilers, low end pcs and some phones definitely struggle to load this page.
Kireta
thanks for the feedback! I will most likely put them in spoilers in the next update!
sveznalica
Legends are getting ready for comeback!!!!
Tic_tac_toe
It’s very extensive and amazing
neniroo
These idols are legit.
hiraee
okay give me some time, I want to help
hiraee
You need the links for their variety shows?
Kireta
anything would help
bcx12
Amazing
Bambi-bam-beh
Sorry kireta its too long to read. Give me a recap
Kireta
exo has 9 members. period.
Bambi-bam-beh
love it
FrostyMaple
Nice article
Tolkien and Dostoevsky are shaking in their graves right now
Tic_tac_toe
Best boys. Nation’s pride.
sveznalica
This is good!
yoshiworldhmm
You did it
Kireta
you inspired me
yoshiworldhmm
I feel proud of myself
How long did it take for you? It took me about 2 and a half
I also used wiki as a example
Don't spill though
Kireta
it took me 5 mins. bro i'm not even done, i literally copy and pasted the info
sveznalica
Wow I am amazed
So this is from Wikipedia
Kireta
I ain't got the time to write a detailed biography
novemberrain
What is this
Is this sth new
Kireta
yess. Its like a user driven fandom wiki page for kpop?
It was meant to allow other users to get to know more about the group
novemberrain
nice! thank you guild masternim for making this page
Kireta
np! I hope others can contribute as well. We still need to add their discography, member introductions
novemberrain
I'd like to help when I have more time
Kireta
okk! You can easily click edit whenever you want to add something. It will not update at first because a staff member has to approve it. Its not me that has to approve it just so you know!
Kireta
I currently don't have any spare time to complete this but please if you can, please help me
taesv6
great work sista
Kireta
Thank you, my numba 1 supporter
taesv6
number #1 hater
Kireta
Hate is the language of love
taesv6
says you