EXO is a boy group formed by SM Entertainment consisting of nine members. They made their debut on April 8, 2012, with their mini album titled “Mama.” Initially, the group had twelve members, divided into two sub-units: EXO-K, promoting in Korean, and EXO-M, promoting in Mandarin. However, since 2015, they have been promoting solely as EXO. The group’s name, EXO, is derived from the term “exoplanet,” which refers to planets outside of the Solar System. Prior to their official debut, EXO released two prologue singles, “What Is Love” and “History,” in January and March 2012, respectively. Their debut single, “Mama,” was released digitally on April 8, followed by the release of their first mini album the next day. The two sub-units promoted the album separately, with EXO-K performing in South Korea and EXO-M performing in China.
In 2013, EXO achieved a major breakthrough with their first full-length album, “XOXO,” which was released in both Korean and Chinese versions. The album’s title track, “Wolf,” featured vocals from all twelve members. They followed up with a repackaged version of the album titled “Growl,” which became a huge success, selling over one million copies. The group continued to release albums and hold concerts, including their second full-length album, “Exodus,” in 2015, and their third full-length album, “Ex’Act,” in 2016. They also embarked on concert tours, including the successful EXO Planet #2 – The Exo’luxion tour. During their career, EXO faced challenges such as the departure of members Kris and Luhan due to contractual disputes in 2014. However, they continued to release music and expand their fanbase.
In 2018, they released their fourth full-length album, “The War,” which became another commercial success for the group. They also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. EXO’s discography includes various albums, repackage albums, and special winter albums. They have achieved numerous sales milestones, becoming known as million-sellers and even “quadruple million sellers.” Due to mandatory military service, some members enlisted, temporarily pausing group activities. However, they continued to release music, including their sixth full-length album, “Obsession,” in 2019.
In 2020, EXO announced a break from group activities to focus on individual and sub-unit promotions while members fulfilled their military duties. They released a special mini album titled “Don’t Fight the Feeling” in 2021 to commemorate their ninth debut anniversary. Throughout their career, EXO has experienced lineup changes, with some members leaving or putting their activities on hold. However, they have remained resilient and maintained a strong fan base. As of 2023, EXO is preparing for the release of their seventh full-length album titled “Exist.” Some members, including Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen, have terminated their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment, while others have chosen to continue their activities within the group.
