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EXO: The Boys and the Variety
In the previous K-pop primer, I provided an overview of EXO's history as a band, including their music and their general progression to mainstream fame. What I didn't cover in great deal were the actual personalities of the band members. In East Asian idol culture, just as important as the quality of the music and general performance are the personalities of band members — after all, with the musical idol machine running as efficiently as it does, most bands don't stay in the musical spotlight for long. Idols will commonly seek other avenues in order to maintain the long-term success of their career, including jobs as variety show MCs, drama and film actors, radio hosts, and other jobs that can be sustained by idols as individuals. (Remember, enlistment into the military is a mandatory requirement for Korean men, with the average time of service being about two years or so, which is another factor into male K-pop groups having a limited stable lifespan.)
As a result, curating the right image and having an endearing personality can make all the difference. I can certainly say that my own loyalty to EXO certainly stems from the fact that they're just adorable, and I hope to communicate some of what makes them so lovable in this primer.
You may note that there isn't too much talk about the families of the individual EXO members, nor is there a lot of detail on the causes they may or may not support. This is partially due to the culture of privacy surrounding idols, and partially due to the fact that EXO's extremely busy schedules since their debut simply haven't left much opportunity for members to pursue their own causes on the side. This may change in coming years, once more solo activities have been lined up for members of the group.
THE MEMBERS OF EXO
Members are listed in order of age, from youngest to oldest, including inactive members Kris and Luhan. Originally I had considered dividing members up by their two subgroups, but these days EXO promotes almost exclusively as a full band, so I've decided to mix both subgroups together.
Note: For those of you who prefer to learn about celebrities in a more organic way and have some spare time on your hands, I've included a list of best variety appearances for the boys at the end. The best primer is EXO's own reality show, EXO's Showtime, which consists of twelve hour-long episodes that are focused entirely on the boys' personalities and dynamic. If you want to skip ahead and read more about the members later, I highly recommend trying the first episode of Showtime before coming back to read the member profiles below.
SEHUN | EXO-K
Full Name: Oh Sehun (Hangul: 오세훈; hanja: 吳世勳)
Nickname(s): Sehunnie, Ggukggukie (pouty face)
Birthdate: April 12, 1994
Height: 183 cm / 6'0" (and growing)
Role/Specialty: Main Dancer, Rapper, Visual, Maknae
Superpower: Wind
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: To me, the easiest way to identify Sehun is by his very straight brows, which are closer to his eyes than most of the other members. Many other idols have also expressed an admiration for his jawline, which is rather sharp and long. In group videos and shots, he's also relatively easy to pick out as one of the tallest members of EXO.
As the maknae (youngest member) of EXO, Sehun's emerging personality gives a hint of just how much he's used to being cherished by his hyungs (older brothers). In South Korea and many other parts of East Asia, there's a pretty strict social hierarchy that age plays a large factor in; in fact, South Korea even has different speech levels to reflect this hierarchy (seven in total). These days, speech has largely simplified to two different formality levels, referred to as jondaemal (존댓말; formal Korean) and banmal (반말; casual Korean). When referring to individuals who were born in an earlier year or have a greater amount of experience, it's critical to use jondaemal speech — hence, Sehun has to speak formally to almost all of his hyungs.
sehun-ah, let umin-hyung protect you from the cold (ft. xiumin)
Typically in Korean idol groups, the maknae is usually singled out across a few fronts. First of all, they are the member that all the others seek to protect the most. It isn't uncommon for hyungs to speak of how much they love their baby member, how they've mentored their dongsaeng (younger sibling) and watched them grow. If you watch interviews with the whole of EXO, they will often praise Sehun for how much he's grown since their debut. Secondly, the maknae usually has the responsibility of serving his hyungs in simple situations, such as serving food. And finally, maknaes are often the members called out most to perform aegyo (애교), which is a term that refers to a cute display of affection. The slight irony in having Sehun perform aegyo is the fact that he doesn't physically look like the youngest member of EXO, and more broadly, his appearance doesn't immediately lend to such coquettish acts — but all of the members will very quickly declare Sehun as having the best aegyo, which is a bit of a wink-wink-nudge-nudge to poke fun at their younger brother.
an example of aegyo
As a result of being the maknae, Sehun's personality tends to be a little more playful and carefree than his hyungs. He gets somewhat of a free pass to be immature, and within the group, can be considered somewhat spoiled. Often, members will cite how needy Sehun is behind the scenes, wanting someone to play with or talk to, even though Sehun hasn't typically shown as much of that neediness on the screen in front of the public. He's a boy who can't really hold still, a boy who's used to being the spoiled youngest sibling even in his own family, and that boyishness has sparked a rather considerable fandom. Even variety shows will highlight Sehun's inability to focus, and his fellow members have encouraged him on more than one occasion to get some mental training to help him settle down.
In spite of being a very weak singer and not the most natural at opening up on variety shows, Sehun is one of the more popular members — and the fact that he's very tall by Korean standards and continuing to grow only sparks further admiration and adoration from Sehun's fanbase. He tends to attract older female fans who are attracted to his youthfulness, and also enjoys a considerable Chinese fanbase as the only member of EXO-K to join Chinese social media.
one of the ways sehun teases the other members is by trying to provide fanservice (ft. chanyeol)
Truth be told, Sehun isn't the most hardworking member of the bunch, nor is he the most varied when it comes to his personal interests. It's a little unclear to me what he plans on doing after EXO, and I suspect it's most likely a bit unclear to him as well — after all, he is only twenty-one, and has spent most of his adolescence training for and performing as a member of EXO. He does want to continue in the entertainment industry, and studied at an arts school before entering S.M. Entertainment with a strong focus in dancing, but I think he's the type who might be best suited in the long run to take on comedic side roles in dramas or on variety shows. He has just enough of an acid tongue to poke fun at the people around him, but he's definitely not a natural leader, and I think he's fine with that. In many ways, he's South Korea's precious younger brother, often recognized for his cute little quirks, including an expression that can only be likened to that of grumpy cat.
His most recent new foray has been into acting. In EXO's pseudo-wish fulfillment drama, EXO Next Door, he has one of the bigger supporting roles and has shown some talent in comedic timing.
he'll make this expression very often when the focus is not on him
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
KAI | EXO-K
Full Name: Kim Jongin (Hangul: 김종인; hanja: 金鍾仁)
Nickname(s): Dancing Machine
Birthdate: January 14, 1994
Height: 182 cm / 5'11.5"
Role/Specialty: Main Dancer, Visual, Vocalist, Rapper
Superpower: Teleportation
Family: Father, Mother, Two Older Sisters, Three Dogs
Distinguishing Features: Perhaps the most frequently cited physical trait of Kai's is that his complexion is naturally darker and tanner than the rest of EXO. I personally think that his nose and lips are the most recognizable traits, both of them being rounder than that of the other members.
If there is one person who best represents EXO, it is Kai. The first member to be introduced as a member of EXO, and generally the first one to grace their music videos as well, Kai is nothing short of a giant ball of charisma who knows exactly how to work a crowd and earn the hearts of millions. He's known for being an extremely hard worker in addition to everything else; he's been dancing since he was a few years old, ballet and jazz and everything in between and he's expressed many times how he doesn't plan on stopping in his attempt to become an increasingly proficient dancer and performer. Even those who aren't big fans of EXO tend to recognize his face, and chances are that EXO wouldn't have gone as far as it has today without Kai's smooth dance moves and his ability to completely win over the camera.
kai will consistently call people out for being superficial
The fact that Kai is the member whose merchandise tends to sell out fastest is actually a pretty big deal for reasons outside of his own personality. In South Korea, and much of East Asia, pale skin is looked upon as the most desirable complexion; many are probably familiar with the fact that South Korea produces many skin bleaching and whitening products, and there are plenty of filters and Photoshop tricks that get used to make celebrities' skin look smooth and pale. However, Kai's complexion is the darkest among his group — and beyond that, he's been comfortable enough to be outspoken about the type of impact that it had on him as a child, when he was frequently bullied for his skin tone. This type of colorist view is still very prevalent in Korea, and in fact even fellow members of EXO often tease Kai in ways that are a little uncomfortable to watch from our point of view, but Kai has been one of the pioneering voices as of late that has decried the implicit hierarchy and classism in the preference for lighter skin.
In general, it seems that Kai's personal experiences and his close relationship with his two older sisters has made him aware of the problematic attitudes towards physical appearances. He's one of the quickest to decry jokes about the way people look, and he's very outspoken about loving all of his fans who also have darker complexions, calling them part of his family. In most other aspects of life, he's playful and boyish, but in this area, he's very determined to get the message across, even if it takes some time.
TICKLE ATTACK (ft. chen)
And in a way, that also represents Kai's greater personality on the whole. Sometimes he can be a mischievous little kid, reveling in his status as one of the youngest members, but underneath everything is a lot of drive and focus. Kai's devotion to the art of dancing has been referenced countless times by his peers and seniors alike; when he was still training, Kai was usually the first person into the dance studio and the last out, sometimes even sleeping in the studio itself overnight. He spends a lot of time watching himself in the mirror, trying to get his expressions and movement just right.
But it all comes at a cost as well. Kai has had some lingering injuries since shortly after EXO's debut that have never had a real chance to heal, and it's starting to become apparent in their most recent comeback, where many view the choice to keep Kai out of the center position in Call Me Baby as the first effort towards giving him something of a break from the spotlight. The most notable injury of his is a waist injury that often keeps him from participating in the more physical activities during variety shows, and there are plenty of fan accounts around that worry about whether or not Kai is in a constant state of pain during their longer promotions. The true extent of the injuries is not something any of us are privy to, but Kai probably needs a long break, and needs it soon.
wardrobe malfunctions happen when you're a dancer (ft. suho)
He may be the last person to admit it, though, because Kai is a perfectionist. And Kai constantly wants to improve, strives for a better stage, wants to best some of his idols in the area of dance. He is modest almost to a fault, expressing often the fact that he doesn't think that he's necessarily a phenomenal dancer, and that he has a long way to go before he'll be anywhere near satisfied with himself. In that way, the playful smile that Kai wears belies his dedication.
kai is totally a fluffy dog person
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
TAO | EXO-M
Full Name: Huang Zitao (Chinese: 黄子韬)
Nickname(s): Zitao, Kung-Fu Panda, Peacock Brother, AB Style
Birthdate: May 2, 1993
Height: 183 cm / 6'0" (and growing)
Role/Specialty: Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Maknae
Superpower: Time Control
Family: Father, Mother
Distinguishing Features: Tao is immediately recognizable for his eyes, which have dark circles underneath them and protrude a little from his face (something he used to be self-conscious about, but since has accepted as a point that endears his fans).
Even though Sehun and Kai are technically younger, Tao is probably the single member who acts the most childish and spoiled in the band (especially with the EXO-M subgroup, where he is the maknae). An only child thanks to China's One Child Policy, Tao was raised in a well-to-do family and was well-provided for as a child, which may have contributed to his somewhat spoiled personality and need for attention. He's frequently acknowledged as being the most childish member in EXO, but he's so earnest and sincere in everything that he does that one would be hard-pressed not to love him — he gets excited about taking selfies, he's very quick to praise his fellow members and thank them for remaining with him, and he's probably the most vocal in expressing how much he wants EXO to stay together forever.
one might liken him to a puppy who requires a lot of praise (ft. xiumin)
But don't let the childish appearance fool you — more than almost any other member, Tao has diligently worked to establish his place in EXO and improve on his skills across both singing and dancing. It's worth noting that Tao was one of the members who received the least amount of training before his debut; only Baekhyun and Chen trained for a lesser amount of time before EXO's debut, and as both of them are Korean, neither experienced quite the same degree of culture shock and language gap that Tao did. The other members of EXO will frequently express their admiration for how quickly Tao has picked up on the Korean language, and how well he has adjusted to life in Korea, which is no doubt due to Tao's own resilience and determination to do well in the band. He went from a member who was probably scouted for his unique skill in martial arts to a member who is often at the forefront of the band, known for his sharp dancing and rapping talent (the latter, even in Korean).
One of the more recent motivating factors in Tao's training has been the shock of losing Kris, and later Luhan, from the band. Before Kris' departure, it was clear that he was the member that Tao idolized most within EXO; wherever Kris went, Tao would follow, admiring Kris' very masculine and cool image. The two were practically inseparable in a brotherly way — or so everyone thought, until Kris took his leave of EXO without first informing any of the other members. To Tao, this was a very deep betrayal and he was left deeply hurt, unable to hide his tears when interviewed about the situation on variety shows, and fairly vocal on social media about how he appreciated and loved the members who stayed.
Some of the other members of EXO-M have reconciled with Kris since his departure — most notably, both of the other Chinese members (Luhan and Lay) have had evidence pointing to their continued correspondance. However, Tao seems not to have forgiven Kris, refusing to follow any of Kris' social media accounts even now.
a maknae receiving affection from his hyung (ft. chen)
Tao has expressed desires of eventually becoming an action star, and has also hinted that he would like to take up action roles not only in his home country, but also in South Korea as well. But for the time being, there's no doubt that his greatest focus is on making sure that EXO emerges well from their recent drama. While Tao was not a very popular member shortly after the group's debut, he has begun to earn more and more fans as he continues to express his love for his fellow members.
There is quite a bit of concern, however, surrounding the fact that he may be working himself too hard. As he is a member who was scouted for his near acrobatic moves and athleticism, Tao has often found himself physically pushed to the limit. One of the frequent moves that he has performed in their title songs, a turning side flip, has resulted in his waist receiving plenty of injuries over the past few years. Currently, he is resting from promotions of their latest single, "Call Me Baby," because a few leg injuries in quick succession have left him in a state of constant pain and in danger of sustaining more permanent injuries.
tao will frequently cuddle or cling to his fellow members (ft. sehun)
Undoubtedly affectionate, Tao is a boy who needs to give and receive a lot of love, and in that way, is probably one of the most adorable members of EXO. He continues needing to fight a lot of factors working against him — his injury, the doubt that's often cast on Chinese members of K-pop groups, and he's not very secure in his physical appearance either — but his hardworking personality and perseverance have opened him up to more success as of late, and everyone's hoping that his recovery will be speedy and that he can get back to his quickly rising momentum in Korea.
blond tao running to tackle and embrace his precious hyung (ft. baekhyun)
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
D.O. | EXO-K
Full Name: Do Kyungsoo (Hangul: 도경수; hanja: 都暻秀)
Nickname(s): Heenjabuja (Sclera-Rich), Satansoo (by international fans)
Birthdate: January 12, 1993
Height: 173 cm / 5'8"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist
Superpower: Superhuman Strength
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: D.O.'s two features of greatest note are his heart-shaped lips (especially when he smiles), and the fact that his sclera (the whites of his eyes) are very prominent and noticeable. He also has some self-consciousness about how narrow his shoulders are.
The most outwardly serious of the members of EXO, D.O. is a talented young man who has started to propel himself into mainstream success with his recent and successful forays into acting. He's fairly well-known as a result of his very distinctive appearance, as a rare example of someone who's gained significant popularity in spite of the fact that he doesn't look like the typical male Korean idol. Even though his appearance looks like it would lend well to coy behavior and aegyo, D.O. draws a sharp contrast with his cutting remarks and almost constant poker face, which only dissolves away when he's on the stage or in the middle of a performance. In many ways, D.O. exemplifies the ideal of the boy next door, the earnest and hard-working young man that all parents especially love.
i don't know what he's trying to do with this handbag
Aside from a distinct weakness in rapping, D.O.'s individual talents are both varied and strong. He, along with Baekhyun and Chen, is considered to be part of the trio of EXO's strongest vocals, with a tone that's slightly lower than the other two. And while he isn't often singled out for his dancing against the EXO-K dancing machines Kai and Sehun, D.O. has always shown himself to be capable of keeping up with choreography. As a result of his rising popularity and his youthful appearance, D.O. was given a secondary acting role in the film Cart, a film based on true events which took place in Korea where a large number of contract workers were laid off without warning. His emotional performance earned him many accolades, which opened up an even more visible role in the popular drama, It's Okay, That's Love, which included some major veteran actors.
Throughout his career, many have expressed that D.O. is extremely polite and persevering even off-camera. The other members cite how well D.O. takes care of them all, offering a listening ear and mentorship across multiple fronts. He's also known for being a talented cook within the group, especially for his spaghetti, and has even purchased a takoyaki cooker. Many veteran actors have expressed their deep surprise upon learning that D.O. was a popular idol — many idols are known for being high-maintenance around the set, and also not necessarily very talented when they just get started — and D.O. has maintained close friendships with many of these actors even after wrapping his roles. In short, D.O. is cherished and loved by many, an example of the upstanding type of person whom all adore.
the difference between d.o.'s acting and his true, linefaced self
As for where he wants to go, D.O.'s recent success in acting has encouraged him to be more vocal about the fact that he's always dreamed of being an actor. He's known for being an avid movie watcher, and to him, language is no barrier — he'll rewatch the Lord of the Rings trilogy frequently, he's expressed before that Amanda Seyfried is his ideal woman, and he'll sing plenty of songs in English, sometimes with hardly any noticeable accent at all. He's gradually coming out of his shell more, frequently making appearances on radio shows, and is learning how to navigate the broader entertainment space rather than being confined to activities that are traditionally seen as idol work.
He's been the subject of some dating rumors, mostly as a result of being spotted wearing or using similar items as Girl's Day member Sojin, further fueled when the latter posted an Instagram picture of her nails, where one nail read 'I ♥ DO' — but there's really been no confirmation either way. However, the fan backlash has been strong, forcing Sojin to lock down her Instagram.
from squishy to scary in two seconds flat (d.o. has revealed that his squinting is because of poor eyesight)
In short, out of all of the EXO members, D.O. seems currently best poised to break out of the usual 'idol' image in Korea. He's shown a wide variety of talent, he's earned the respect of acting veterans, and he has the type of squeaky clean image that the older generations love. There's a good chance that he might end up somewhat typecast in his opportunities thanks to his youthful appearance, but for now, he's picking up a lot of momentum and is sure to go far.
fuck his life
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
CHANYEOL | EXO-K
Full Name: Park Chanyeol (Hangul: 박찬열; hanja: 朴燦烈)
Nickname(s): Happy Virus, Yoda
Birthdate: November 27, 1992
Height: 185 cm / 6'1"
Role/Specialty: Main Rapper, Visual
Superpower: Fire
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Sister
Distinguishing Features: Chanyeol is the tallest of the active members of EXO. He also has very noticeable ears that protrude in a manner that, per Baekhyun's comment, reminds some of Yoda.
There's a reason why Chanyeol refers to himself as EXO's voice — and it isn't because he views himself as the group's top vocalist. Chanyeol is basically a person who never stops talking. He's a condensed ball of sunshine who will insert himself into every conversation and situation possible with great enthusiasm, and is particularly skilled at helping to break the ice for the rest of the members. Out of everyone in EXO, Chanyeol can be considered the most skillful of them all at variety show appearances — he has a sharp mind and good reflexes, and is unafraid of making fun of himself if it earns a few extra laughs. A few choice appearances and upcoming roles are positioning Chanyeol to potentially be someone who can break into mainstream Korean households with his appeal.
he's really not kidding about being the visual
The nickname of Chanyeol's that has stuck the most over the years is Happy Virus. Even off camera, members have described Chanyeol as being somewhat of a mood maker for the group. He tends to be very optimistic and a complete prankster, and along with Baekhyun and Chen, composes one third of the beagle line — members who are yappy and enthusiastic like beagle puppies. Whenever members are asked which of the group they consider very dateable, Chanyeol's name tends to come up as someone who would be exceedingly nice to the person he dates. He's appeared on more pseudo-reality shows than any of the other members, and unless he's just incredibly talented at knowing exactly when to smile for the camera, it feels like there is rarely a moment when he doesn't have a smile on his face and a laugh for his companions.
That said, Chanyeol does have a more serious side which surfaces when he works deeply on his music. Chanyeol plays multiple instruments, and has demonstrated through late night posts to his Instagram that he stays up to spend a couple of hours on composition whenever he gets a chance. He might not necessarily have the vocal range that some of his fellow members do, largely because his voice is so low, but he certainly does have a sense and love for music. Other areas are... a little more varied. He's probably the weakest dancer in the entire group, and his serious acting chops are in the midst of being tested — he recently landed his first serious acting role in the upcoming film, Jangsoo Shop.
having broken into tears, chanyeol turned the moment around by poking fun at himself
While Chanyeol has expressed a desire to try many things, I believe that music is where his heart will lie at the end of it all. He's been vocal about wanting to someday compose the title song for EXO, although we've yet to see one of his compositions be included in EXO's albums. In all else, I think Chanyeol is quickly trying to grab onto whatever opportunities he can while he has more of the public's attention.
However, that grab for attention has its drawbacks. There is a small, but vocal minority within the fandom who have started to tell Chanyeol off for the tactics he uses to pull attention to himself — namely, when he puts down his fellow members. Having watched a lot of these segments, I don't honestly believe that he makes teasing remarks with deeply malicious intent; one of the members he teases the most is Kai, often bringing up his darker complexion, which is a sore point for Kai, but the two of them still seem to largely get along and indeed share a room at the EXO dormitories. This type of behavior has earned Chanyeol a fair amount of antis who have sometimes taken to his Instagram to leave very negative and at times violent remarks; if Chanyeol has noticed, he hasn't commented directly on it. However, his mother has expressed that Chanyeol has been under a large amount of stress lately, sleeping poorly to the point where his complexion is heavily breaking out. If you ask me, all of the boys are probably exhausted.
s w a g
Still, if there's one thing that Chanyeol can be counted on, it's to provide his characteristic smile and v for victory signs wherever he goes. In many ways, Chanyeol has been instrumental in bringing the boys out of their shells, especially within EXO-K. And while he hasn't yet broken major ground on the dreams he aspires to most, Chanyeol has shown no signs of stopping in his attempt to compose a song that's truly remarkable and that he can share with his fans.
the most delicious peep to exist
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
CHEN | EXO-M
Full Name: Kim Jongdae (Hangul: 김종대; hanja: 金鐘大)
Nickname(s): Funky Chen, Chensing Machine, Joy Jongdae
Birthdate: September 21, 1992
Height: 178 cm / 5'10"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist
Superpower: Lightning
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: Chen is typically known for two things: the way his lips curve up at the corners, and his sharp cheekbones. He's also been described as looking strangely like a dinosaur thanks to his jawline and a camel thanks to his heavy eyelids.
Another endlessly positive member, you can always tell when Chen is around by his telltale laugh. The kid laughs at everything. Chen has a sort of sidekick type of feel, able to smile at just about anything and eager to laugh at anyone's jokes, and he has always been pointed out by fellow members as someone who is endlessly kind and positive. As one of the members who received the least amount of training before joining EXO, Chen is an interesting dichotomy of sorts — on the one hand, his vocal talents are by far some of the best that S.M. Entertainment has ever had the honor of representing; on the other, his dancing and ability to hold his own on variety shows has been shaky at best. But Chen takes all of that in stride and diligently tries to improve, day by day.
chen will never stop halfway when he attempts something, even if it results in regret
Of EXO's vocal line, Chen is by far the individual who showcases the best range, and there's no one else that the members will turn to when asked who has the best and steadiest high notes. While Baekhyun is just about as talented at staying on key, Chen has the power and breath control that his peers don't, and he's pleased at any opportunity to show this skill off in full. He has stopped performances halfway through before and requested for the back-up vocals to be turned off so that he can showcase his true live singing. At the same time, praises of his singing are met with modesty; as the skill set that he's most developed in, Chen is quick to point out that he still has so much more to learn and so much that he can improve on. Meanwhile, his Achilles' heel of dancing is something Chen loves to be praised on. He's made massive strides lately in his ability to move with the beat, to the point where Kai's expressed genuine surprise at Chen's potential, and it's clear that Chen enjoys a good, self-effacing challenge.
His personality is a simple one. Unlike his fellow beagle line members Chanyeol and Baekhyun, Chen isn't someone who usually makes jokes at another person's expense; if anything, he'll spend a lot of time gushing about the virtues of each one of his fellow members, older and younger alike. Sometimes, this brings him a tiny bit under the fire of fans who find him too agreeable, who want him to show stronger opinions and desires, but frankly, Chen seems to be one of the members who most takes his idol life in stride and focuses his time on his strengths.
pranking his precious little brother (ft. tao)
Even when it comes to career aspirations, Chen has clearly stated that he has absolutely no desire to start an acting career. He also hasn't jumped at any opportunity to act as a variety show host or MC, and while he's perfectly capable at holding his own during radio segments where he's invited to speak, he's also quick to remain quiet if there are enough other members to fill in the space and time. Chen is the type of individual who's pretty satisfied with the core skills that being a member of EXO requires, and in all else, would rather help to better promote his fellow members. He was one of the first to talk about how hard Xiumin has been exercising lately, he's one of the few who will repeatedly mention how handsome he finds Lay — Chen tends to focus on trying to bringing underappreciated members into the spotlight however he can.
did you not learn your lesson the first time, dude?
Ultimately, Chen is an individual who's been raised to live happily, and that makes him an absolute delight to follow. With EXO's time as a full group being somewhat limited, it can be a little worrisome to wonder what might happen to Chen once the group is forced to focus on individual activities. My fingers are personally crossed for a solo debut at some point, and I've decided that I want him to sing the theme songs to every K-drama ever.
here's looking at you, kid
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
BAEKHYUN | EXO-K
Full Name: Byun Baekhyun (Hangul: 변백현; hanja: 邊伯賢)
Nickname(s): Bacon
Birthdate: May 6, 1992
Height: 174 cm / 5'8.5"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist
Superpower: Light
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: Baekhyun's eyes slant slightly downward, which used to be emphasized even further with lower line eyeliner in the early days.
The biggest prankster within EXO, Baekhyun is quite possibly the most popular member of EXO in Korea because he really doesn't have any weaknesses in the usual areas that idols cover. He's a very talented vocalist, he's a decent dancer, has fledgling acting chops, and even fares well on variety shows. The fact that he's pretty conventionally handsome doesn't hurt, either. Baekhyun is the sort of individual whom you sometimes want to hate — the type of person who was undoubtedly popular before his debut and for whom all the pieces always seem to fall neatly in his favor — but he's full of just enough warmth and charisma that he gets away with it, anyway. While Kai probably remains the well-known face of EXO across the country, Baekhyun is the one who incites the most stanning among the EXO fandom.
he may be the main vocalist but let's be real, he could also serve the role of visual
No matter what type of fire Baekhyun may or may not come under for his extensive trolling, there's one thing that absolutely no one can deny: the boy can sing. Before landing a spot as a trainee within S.M. Entertainment, Baekhyun had been admitted to a music and arts program for university, and as such, came into the company with a fair amount of technical training. This probably made it possible for him to debut as a member of EXO under a year after he was first inducted as a trainee. He's been praised frequently for his musical versatility, which is arguably more extensive than either of the two other vocal hard-hitters; while D.O. specializes in R&B and Chen knocks ballads out of the park, Baekhyun manages all that and more, being the first member of EXO to be cast in a leading role in a musical — a Korean adaptation of Singin' in the Rain.
Personality-wise, Baekhyun has the sharpest comebacks of all of the members of EXO. He's quick in finding cracks in another person's logic, quick and effective at imitating his fellow members, and in general, he's just a jokester through and through. Pre-debut photos suggest that this has always been the case — he's had some incriminating photos released that showed him completely red-faced while drinking underage. Baekhyun is something of a party boy, and his humor can be just as crass (he's the most likely to make racist jabs), but fame does seem to have done some good for him in this regard. Even though scandals aren't easy to deal with, they seem to have helped Baekhyun reflect and learn over time. At least, while he's in the public eye.
trolling his hyung with an ice-cold towel (ft. xiumin)
But his biggest scandal has nothing to do with his sense of humor. In June of last year, Baekhyun had incriminating photos of him released in a car making out with Girls' Generation leader, Taeyeon. Dating while a part of a young, up and rising idol band is generally considered to be a big no-no, and a sign of an artist not being completely devoted to their fans and their craft. And, make no mistake, sometimes idols feel very much entitled to their idols as a sort of wish fulfillment — idols will frequent express how they feel that they're practically dating their fanbases, after all. The backlash upon discovering Baekhyun's relationship was severe, with many fans feeling betrayed and belittled as they discovered little hidden messages that Baekhyun and Taeyeon left for one another through social media, and the wrath of EXO's fans fell upon Taeyeon as hate messages were spammed all over her social media accounts. After the scandal, Baekhyun became extremely quiet and mostly abandoned the use of social media, apologizing over and over to his fans. Only recently has he started to use Instagram again, and the public has no idea as to whether or not Baekhyun and Taeyeon are still dating.
In the long run, Baekhyun has expressed a desire to try a little bit of everything. Some acting, certainly continuing down the path he started with his singing, and he's been one of the members who's received the most opportunity to MC for shows. He seems to appreciate variety rather than sticking to one narrow thing, and the fact that he's still extremely popular in spite of all of his scandals means that he's a safe investment for S.M. Entertainment to throw at some solo activities. Chances are, we'll start to see more of him soon.
a more natural look without his trademark eyeliner
While Baekhyun's section here has been fraught with drama and intrigue, at the bottom of it all, he's very affectionate towards his fellow members. From looking out after the younger members, to cuddling up and acting coy around the older members, there doesn't seem to be any member of EXO that Baekhyun doesn't at least casually get along with. Ultimately, he's a bright, lovable kid who's likely to continue making waves in the industry.
selca game~
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
LAY | EXO-M
Full Name: Zhang Yixing (Chinese: 张艺兴)
Nickname(s): Xing Xing, Xing Tuo, Changsha Prince, Healing Unicorn
Birthdate: October 7, 1991
Height: 179 cm / 5'10.5"
Role/Specialty: Main Dancer, Vocalist
Superpower: Healing
Family: Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother
Distinguishing Features: The feature that tends to draw the most attention are Lay's heavy eyelids, which often give him the appearance of looking drowsy or zoned out. He also has a very deep dimple only on his right side.
Although you wouldn't know it at first glance, Lay is the single member of EXO who has been in the public limelight for the longest amount of time. At the tender age of two, Lay took to a stage for the first time, singing and performing in front of a large crowd without any fear, and his taste for performance persisted steadily through present day. Easygoing and relaxed in front of the camera, Lay was a child star with a small and loyal following in his home province in China, but decided to try his hand at music and performance in the South Korean market during the period when the Hallyu craze was going strong. Already accustomed to long hours and rehearsal schedules, Lay worked extremely hard during his period as a trainee, and is one of the most persevering members of the entire band. He believes strongly in the power of hard work, and is quick to encourage other people to chase after their dreams, claiming that anything is possible with enough time and dedication.
why don't you call me, baby?
In many ways, the easygoing and rather drowsy appearance that Lay has contrasts greatly with his aura on the stage. Lay is an absolute powerhouse when he's performing — he is the strongest dancer within EXO-M, and many are of the opinion that he's on par with Dancing Machine Kai as well. He comes to life when he's dancing, the focus sharp in his eyes. But the skill doesn't stop there; Lay is also a gifted composer, having been the first member of EXO who composed a song that was performed in their most recent live tour, "Promise." He's been composing songs since he was a child, and has talked on a few occasions about how he's composed songs for his ex-girlfriend when they were both teenagers. Another thing that casual fans don't always realize is that Lay comes more to life when he's in his home country; even though he's been diligently working in Korea, he feels most comfortable in China, where the language is familiar and the sense of humor more aligned with his own.
Off of the stage, Lay is, well, still a sweetheart. He seems to be one of the most earnest members of the band, marveling over the skills of his fellow members and quick to gush about them to anyone who will listen with a greater amount of specificity and care than someone like Chen does. While stories have suggested that he was somewhat of a clueless individual who needed looking after in the beginning, recently, he's come more into his own, and you can start to spot that assertiveness in group interviews. And, whereas most of the other members are entirely embarrassed by their concept superpowers, Lay truly seems to enjoy the fact that he's had healing designated to him, a power that aligns incredibly well with his caring and nurturing personality.
the polite unicorn's attempts to be polite are derailed (ft. luhan)
Much like Tao, Lay has come under a ton of scrutiny in the wake of Luhan and Kris' departures. Recently, S.M. Entertainment announced that they granted permission for Lay to open up his own talent studio in China, where he'll be able to manage his own schedule and opportunities (except for music, which S.M. still holds all rights to), which they claimed was a result of Lay's strong loyalty and hard work with the company. The truth is probably that, after losing Kris and Luhan, S.M. knew that they couldn't afford to lose another Chinese member without seriously endangering their relationships with Chinese entertainment agencies, but Lay has been extremely vocal in supporting S.M.'s point of view. He's talked about how important it is that a Chinese member show that they can weather the difficulties, how it's important to protect the cultural exchange between Korea and China, and... well, he seems to believe it. He seems to be a true company man, able to admit that S.M. has its flaws, but much preferring to try and work through them together. None of that has stopped the Korean fan community from turning on him, highly suspicious of why Lay needs his own studio in China, and believing him selfish for seeking these solo activities and forcing the rest of EXO to promote without him.
Essentially, Lay is between a rock and a hard place. If he limited his promotions to what S.M. gave him, it would mean almost nothing substantial. But the moment he tries to find great opportunities in his home country, he's labeled as a flight risk and extremely selfish. Time will tell whether or not the netizen attitude will eventually get to him.
when lay's playfulness surfaces, he's nothing short of adorable (ft. kris and tao)
But at the end of the day, Lay's optimism, hard work, and loyalty make him one of my favorite members of EXO. He was recently selected by one of the most popular variety shows in China to show up as a representative of the upstanding, pure archetype, innocent and guileless with only his girlfriend's best interests at heart. He's also currently in the middle of filming for a movie that's being produced by Zhang Ziyi, so the opportunities are rolling in aplenty in China, and all fingers are crossed that he'll be able to pursue what's best for him while also being able to promote with the group he loves.
flashing that healing smile
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
SUHO | EXO-K
Full Name: Kim Junmyeon (Hangul: 김준면; hanja: 金俊勉)
Nickname(s): Junma, Just Rich, Mama
Birthdate: May 22, 1991
Height: 176 cm / 5'9.5"
Role/Specialty: Lead Vocalist, Leader
Superpower: Water
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: The funny thing is, I don't think Suho has any very distinguishing features, because he's so close to the ideal Korean idol face. Is 'handsome' an acceptable feature? I do find his brows strong and expressive.
When you start to familiarize yourself with Suho's personality, it becomes immediately clear why he was the individual chosen as EXO-K's leader. Even without looking to his age as a potential deciding factor, the thing that's immediately apparent about Suho is his exemplary personality — he is polite, he is considerate, and he cares about other people to the point of driving himself to tears and often. He is a young man who is tireless in his efforts to make sure that everyone is cared for and tended to, the first person who will mention any members who may be missing from a performance and wishing them a speedy recovery or return. While Suho may not necessarily be the most charismatic member, his tendency to be overly earnest and dorky makes him all the more lovable and precious. He truly embodies his stage name, Suho, which means guardian in Korean.
work that wink, leader-nim
Suho's path leading up to his debut with EXO was not an easy one. He trained for over six years before he was able to debut with the band, which is longer than the typical 2-3 years that a Korean idol has to train before giving a chance to debut. He's talked at length before over the grueling training process, how he almost lost hope so many times, especially as he watched peers who had entered the trainee system later than himself go on to make their stage entrances. According to Suho, he was on the cusp of giving up and deciding to go back to acting school when he was finally selected to be a member of EXO, and the rest is history. Perhaps because of how difficult his own training was, Suho has wound up being especially attentive of the needs of others, not only on a physical level, but also emotionally and mentally as well. All the members have expressed how loving Suho is at some point or another, and everyone cherishes their leader and his devotion to the band.
And yet, Suho isn't incredibly popular. Which isn't actually rare for the designated leaders of idol groups — sometimes the leaders are deliberately picked to be the most stable personalities, the ones who won't necessarily go on varieties and make a fool of themselves, or who won't stir things up by causing a scandal. Suho is reliable almost to a fault, but he is not the first person who comes to mind for any particular skill. He is a strong vocalist, but D.O. and Baekhyun generally eclipse him. He isn't a great dancer, but he isn't as disastrous at it as Chanyeol. He went to school for acting, but it was D.O. and Chanyeol who were first able to make major waves with their acting. Suho doesn't generally have any haters, but he also doesn't have a ton of super enthusiastic fans, and in that sense, he's a necessary lynchpin for EXO that doesn't necessarily shine the brightest in his own right. Which is, truthfully, kind of unfortunate.
suho protects his fellow members from having to discuss uncomfortable topics (ft. baekhyun)
It's a reality that Suho almost seems to acknowledge when he talks about his own future beyond EXO. He is almost impossibly devoted to his band, and to the broader S.M. Entertainment agency; he has expressed that he has a goal of eventually becoming one of the board of directors for S.M. Entertainment, and honestly, he'd probably be a great choice. Suho comes from a well-to-do background, which probably explains a lot of his mannerisms, and also lends well to the fondness that many people have for his character. He's a clean-cut man who looks great in a suit, and his personal experiences with the daily troubles of trainees and band members might make him a more moral voice to add to the leadership of S.M. Entertainment. Witness above, for example, Suho coming quickly to Baekhyun's defense when a reporter wanted to ask Baekhyun about the dating scandal with Taeyeon, inconsiderately referred to as the 'car accident' due to where they were discovered. Suho cares and loves deeply, always putting others first.
Many speculate that Suho also still has a strong desire to secure some acting roles, having been very devoted to taking acting classes before EXO, but there's a high likelihood that he won't let himself be immersed deeply into acting roles until EXO's schedules relax a little and more members seek individual activities.
not the prettiest crier in exo
In short, Suho is a generous soul who feels strongly for his friends and loved ones, and does everything in his power to protect them from harm. He may never be as popular as some of the other members, but he is an incredibly necessary glue that helps to hold his band together, and even if more members leave, it's highly likely that Suho will remain with EXO for as long as he is able.
his heart beats for you~
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
KRIS | EXO-M
Full Name: Li Jiaheng (Chinese: 李嘉恒)
Nickname(s): Wu Yifan (Chinese: 吴亦凡), Fan-Fan, Galaxy, Kevin
Birthdate: November 6, 1990
Height: 188 cm / 6'2"
Role/Specialty: Main Rapper, Leader, Visual
Superpower: Flight
Family: Father, Mother
Distinguishing Features: Kris has a very long and fairly narrow face, which many view as having an especially masculine feel. His thick brows and high cheekbones complete the effect.
For years, S.M. Entertainment has been trying to break into the Chinese market, and Kris may have been one of their most successful efforts to date, although they never pulled completely through for him. Kris is a smooth talker, charismatic and undeniably handsome, and even though he wasn't necessarily the strongest singer or dancer, he had all the makings of a strong personality that had broad appeal in China. As the leader of EXO-M up until his departure from the band, Kris was absolutely critical in breaking the shyness of each of the other members, and it was clear from early on that he was leaned on often as the big brother figure who let everything slide easily off his back. EXO has said in the past that Kris was the member of the group who turned the most heads, and it's not all thanks to his considerable height.
his most attractive look to date
As mentioned above, Kris isn't a vocal powerhouse, and his sense of coordination and rhythm haven't accrued to a high level of skill on the dance floor. This is pretty typical among members who are designated as the rappers of their group — instead of those musical skills, the key is having confidence and an easy way of carrying themselves, which Kris has in spades. As a matter of fact, rap isn't even something that Kris has ever been passionate about (in the same way that Chanyeol is much more dedicated to composition and playing his guitar than he necessarily is about rap), but Kris forged ahead regardless and showed everyone that he had a good sense of how to cater his image to have that broad appeal. An added bonus is his high potential as an international figure — he speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and English (fluently, given that he spent much of his childhood living in Canada).
Unfortunately, S.M. didn't take full advantage of that star potential. While EXO-M drew a lot of attention in China shortly after its debut, EXO-K faced the challenge of high competition in the market. In order to differentiate the band, S.M. Entertainment decided to join the two subgroups for promotions — and the unfortunate consequence was that EXO-M members no longer had the time to pursue opportunities in the market that they were originally hired for. Kris went from being the most popular member to someone who hardly received any lines or close-ups in their music videos, and thanks to the language gap, Korean members were always prioritized for acting roles and variety segments. Combine all of that with the stress of not being able to travel home and see his family, and Kris' mental and physical health began to suffer. Facing issues with fatigue and arising heart conditions, Kris simply neglected to fly back to Korea after an EXO concert in China, and filed a lawsuit against S.M. Entertainment on the same day. He did not warn his fellow members before taking this action.
charming the girls over early
His action affected the group deeply. In spite of the fact that he did not receive a ton of screentime and public attention in his final months with the group, Kris continued to be one of the older members who helped gather and group the rest of the band. He had a confident personality that all the other members were drawn to, a playful personality and self-confident attitude that members loved to poke and make fun of, and for someone that the EXO boys viewed as a leader to leave without any forewarning had an enormous impact on their morale and confidence.
The question that everyone asks now is whether or not Kris has been able to reconcile with his former bandmates since his departure. So far, there's been no indication of him keeping in contact with any of the Korean members. None of them follow his social media, and he doesn't seem to follow theirs either. However, Kris has certainly met up with Luhan after the latter's departure from EXO; the two of them have been seen speaking cordially with one another, and were even scheduled to perform together before the drama coming from Korean media networks had the broadcast company shutting the plans down. Many also speculate that Kris has been in contact with Lay — the latter was recently spotted wearing the same jackets that Kris was once seen wearing, with the size being slightly too large for Lay. On the other side of the spectrum, Tao hasn't given any sign of reconciling with Kris at all.
sometimes questionable dancing
Since his departure, Kris' image has shifted subtly. While he still gives off as much of a cool image as he can with his fashion choices, Kris is no longer the leader within a group, and no longer a seasoned idol in his broader industry. Kris is now very much a new player in the Chinese entertainment industry, where he has expressed the deepest desire to break into the acting space, with music taking something of a secondary role. So far, reviews of his acting skills haven't been the most stellar — but in all fairness, he's only been in the one movie so far, and reviews of the other actors weren't fantastic either. However, Kris' momentum as an idol figure has remained strong; his social media accounts continue to be popular in China, his promotions and commercials attract a lot of attention, and he's even had a wax figure created of him through Madame Tussaud's. Leaving EXO was probably the best decision that Kris could have made for his physical and mental health; now what remains to be seen is whether or not he can be successful while flying solo.
made everyone shy with his cool aura
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
LUHAN | EXO-M
Full Name: Luhan (Chinese: 鹿晗)
Nickname(s): Xiao Lu, Lulu, Little Prince
Birthdate: April 20, 1990
Height: 178 cm / 5'10"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual
Superpower: Telekinesis
Family: Father, Mother
Distinguishing Features: Luhan has a face that's typically seen as more delicate and feminine, with eyes that are especially innocent and wide.
The other members of EXO have often spoken of how much Luhan looks like he's lifted directly from a romance manga, and they're not exaggerating — Luhan immediately struck the fandom as being the prettiest member of the band, with beautifully molded features and a guileless appearance. It's an image that had Luhan a little defensive from the get-go, needing to remind fans and fellow members alike that he's assertive and masculine where personality and athleticism are concerned, but there's no doubt that S.M. took as much advantage as they could of Luhan's looks, dressing him up with tousled hair in shades of red and pink. Combined with his vocal and dancing skills, Luhan was an all-around powerhouse who reached great popularity in both China and South Korea.
why pick boys over flowers when you can have both?
Luhan was initially scouted by S.M. Entertainment while he was shopping in Myeongdong. As he had been studying abroad in South Korea, he spoke the language fluently, and after S.M. found that his vocal talent and dancing skills were formidable (he had auditioned for another entertainment agency a couple years prior), they immediately signed him on to become a trainee. As the second member of EXO who was introduced in their teasers, Luhan drew attention from the onset; although Kris was designated as the leader of EXO-M, Luhan was arguably the more popular of the two, having the right skill set and appearance to have broad appeal in East Asia. He impressed the Korean fandom with his mastery of the language; he was welcomed by the Chinese audience for being a boy from Beijing. His personality was rather middling — while Luhan wasn't the loudest or someone prone to a great deal of jokes, he also wasn't shy about speaking up when given the opportunity. His skills at creating fans through social media are considerable as well, with one of his Weibo (Chinese equivalent of Facebook) posts being the most commented Weibo post ever. (It was about soccer. Go figure.)
Towards the beginning of EXO's rocket to fame, all was well, but similarly to Kris, Luhan began to experience greater trouble once the two halves of EXO were joined together for promotions. EXO-M members were usually shunted to the side whenever promotions didn't require or couldn't handle a full dozen boys, and they also didn't receive many opportunities to promote as individuals. Luhan was able to briefly break out of this pattern when he was signed on to star in a Chinese remake of a popular Korean movie, 20 Once Again, and he deeply enjoyed his time filming. Unfortunately, the opportunities dried up again once they were done with production, and EXO threw itself into global promotions. The world tour was already exhausting to most of the members, but even more so for Luhan, who has acrophobia (a fear of heights), and often had to be sedated on their plane rides. Suffering deeply from exhaustion and depression, Luhan gave S.M. a grace period to adjust his working conditions, but as they failed to compromise, he filed a lawsuit a few short months after Kris' departure.
he has to admit, the photoshop job was good, he'd go for it
Unlike Kris, all evidence points to Luhan having told his fellow members of his intentions before leaving. In particular, fellow EXO-M member Lay took to Weibo around the time the lawsuit was announced, and while he did not name Luhan explicitly, he expressed a desire to take the stage again with his brother someday and that he supported said brother in all of his efforts and decisions. Members Tao and Xiumin also continue to mutually follow Luhan on various social media outlets, indicating that they may still be in some amount of contact; at his last performance as a member of EXO, it was also clear that some of the other boys were especially emotional and often had to provide physical support to keep Luhan standing upright. While sympathy was high for Luhan during the initial stages of his illness, since he broke his contract, S.M.'s efforts to smear his image have been somewhat successful, perpetuating the stereotype that Chinese members aren't loyal to Korean companies.
However, in China, Luhan remains just about the hottest trend ever. He has been chosen as the representative for a lot of top brands, including most recently Coach, and frequently graces various fashion magazines. He has yet to go back full-swing into his career, however, and recently released a statement apologizing for having turned down a lot of opportunities for appearances, citing a severe resurgence of his acrophobia, which he's doing his best to treat and manage. It's pretty clear that the stress S.M. put Luhan under has had a deep effect; in some interviews, he's even mentioned that he's not entirely sure he would try to be a singer again if given the opportunity to repeat the past several years.
werk them hips, luhan
All that said, there's no doubt that Luhan enjoyed his acting opportunities and enjoys taking the stage. As long as he's thoughtful about which jobs he accepts and stays in the general public limelight, chances are very good that he'll continue being successful in China. He's made a lot of recent connections thanks to the movie role, with veteran actors praising how quick and earnest of a learner he is. Some hold out hope that Luhan will be able to reunite with one or more EXO-M members someday in some capacity, but that remains to be seen.
baby deer, sleepy deer
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
XIUMIN | EXO-M
Full Name: Kim Minseok (Hangul: 김민석; hanja: 金珉錫)
Nickname(s): Baozi (Steamed Bun), Mandu (Korean Dumpling), Umin
Birthdate: March 26, 1990
Height: 176 cm / 5'9.5"
Role/Specialty: Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, Lead Vocalist, Mathyung
Superpower: Frost
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother, Younger Sister
Distinguishing Features: As the only member of EXO who has monolids, Xiumin's large and almost cat-like eyes set him apart from the rest of the group. He also has a rather round face and delicate features, which have earned the description of fairy-like by fans.
And at last, we come to my all-time favorite member, Xiumin. The oldest member of EXO, Xiumin presents a great contrast across many fronts — in spite of being the eldest member, he arguably looks like one of the youngest; in spite of acting cute and coy, he's generally described as being both serious and very mature by the rest of the members. Xiumin is a member who has a much quieter appeal than the others, a young man who rarely speaks unless actively encouraged to, but something about the mix of his shyness and his unique appearance have made him immensely popular in South Korea. Even silent appearances frequently cause Xiumin to rise to the top of search trends, and even among older generations, Xiumin's face is easily recognized. There are some who speculate that it's Xiumin's wholesome boy next door image that make him as popular as he is, but no one really knows exactly what the cause of the trend is.
apart from wanting to continue performing, xiumin wants to get a barista license
Out of all the EXO members, Xiumin is probably the closest to what you might call an ascended fanboy. He is an incredibly avid fan of another band under S.M. Entertainment, TVXQ, and frankly admits that without TVXQ having paved the way for mainstream K-pop, EXO probably wouldn't exist (and he certainly wouldn't have become a member). His phone is always stocked with at least a few of their songs, and Xiumin even continues to attend their live concerts; one fan tells the story of how Xiumin once caught one of the signed balls that TVXQ threw into the crowd, and after briefly considering tossing it to another fan, he ended up pocketing the ball. And let's not even get started on how precious Xiumin is when he's around TVXQ member Changmin. Perhaps for this reason, Xiumin has always been known to be incredibly kind and gentle with fans at signing or meet and greet events.
It also motivates him where training is concerned. Even though he's never quite acknowledged publicly to the same degree, many point out that Xiumin's dancing ability is up there with the likes of Kai and Lay. His singing is also what got him accepted to S.M. in the first place, where he ended up being a finalist in one of their vocal scouting competitions (he originally signed up to accompany a friend, but ended up going far further — oops). Quietly, Xiumin has worked hard over the years to improve all elements of his performance, right down to his appearance. After having been dissatisfied with his lack of athleticism as a child, Xiumin has worked hard to find an exercise regimen that works for him, and in recent months, has become far more confident on the stage. It's this clear progress and persevering nature that endears him to a lot of fans; more than most other members, Xiumin has a significant fandom among women in their twenties and thirties, usually a few years older than Xiumin himself.
the fact that his sister crushes on chen is the bane of his existence
In spite of his popularity, Xiumin hasn't had a lot of solo activities over the years. And he's the first person who'll claim deep embarrassment over the fact that he rises so quickly in search trends. Many believe that Xiumin's lack of appearances until now is largely because of his general discomfort with speaking much in front of the camera. The jobs he seems to enjoy most are filming commercials and music videos, but he's also gradually gained more confidence on radio shows, more so when there are fewer members also present. Verdict is still out on where he'll go eventually, but Xiumin deeply believes in K-pop as an industry, so there is a chance that he may continue to stay in that sphere as long as he is able.
In his personal life, Xiumin is adored by all of his younger brother as someone reliable, someone cuddly, and a really fantastic roommate due to the fact that he is impossibly neat and tidy (though he currently stays in a room all on his own, probably because he doesn't want to deal with the boys' messes). The rowdier members are frequently seen teasing and trying to provoke Xiumin, and the quieter members will often cite Xiumin as the person whose company they enjoy the most. He's the type of person who gets along well with everyone, and the fact that he's the middle sibling in his family probably helps him understand how to play both the role of a protective older brother and that of an eager mentee; Xiumin is very close friends with many members of various older K-pop groups, both within and out of S.M. Entertainment, which only lends further to the impression he leaves of being a very genuine person.
let this man have children eventually
In short, Xiumin is loved because his image matches who he is, which comes with all of the small quirks that people generally have. He's terrified of pigeons, he's quietly sassy when using his butt, he lets his left hand hang limp for no discernible reason, and he's impossibly neat even when making a sandwich. As he builds up more and more confidence over the years, a lot of fans are eager to see where he goes and all that he learns in time. Fingers crossed for a drama appearance!
look for the man whose eye makeup is most on point
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
BEST VARIETY APPEARANCES
No matter how many articles you read about EXO and its members, the places that really light up their personalities are the appearances that they have on variety shows. The absolute best show to watch is EXO's Showtime, which is a show composed of twelve hour-long episodes that was filmed shortly after "Growl" propelled them to mainstream fame, catching them at the point where they weren't deeply controlling their personalities yet. The other notable show is Happy Camp, which is a highly popular Chinese variety show that invites various hot guests of the time, and has a slightly different flavor and sense of humor than Korean varieties.
Below, I've included streaming links and a brief description of some of the highlights. I know that they're pretty long, but I recommend trying one or two to see if they're appealing to you (and if you're anything like me, you'll end up staying up far too late as you try to keep up with everything.)
...and that's it for this primer! Even though this primer is extremely long, it really only begins to scratch the surface of everything that makes the EXO members charismatic and lovable. If you're a boy band fan who loves to watch segments that show off their personalities, then EXO is a great group to follow; they're super hot and the community is extremely actitve in following the boys' activities and subbing them for the English-speaking audience. As always, any comments, questions, squeeing, and invitations to be EXO-Ls together are deeply welcome.
The next primer will cover the girl group 2NE1. Look forward to it!
As a result, curating the right image and having an endearing personality can make all the difference. I can certainly say that my own loyalty to EXO certainly stems from the fact that they're just adorable, and I hope to communicate some of what makes them so lovable in this primer.
You may note that there isn't too much talk about the families of the individual EXO members, nor is there a lot of detail on the causes they may or may not support. This is partially due to the culture of privacy surrounding idols, and partially due to the fact that EXO's extremely busy schedules since their debut simply haven't left much opportunity for members to pursue their own causes on the side. This may change in coming years, once more solo activities have been lined up for members of the group.
Members are listed in order of age, from youngest to oldest, including inactive members Kris and Luhan. Originally I had considered dividing members up by their two subgroups, but these days EXO promotes almost exclusively as a full band, so I've decided to mix both subgroups together.
Note: For those of you who prefer to learn about celebrities in a more organic way and have some spare time on your hands, I've included a list of best variety appearances for the boys at the end. The best primer is EXO's own reality show, EXO's Showtime, which consists of twelve hour-long episodes that are focused entirely on the boys' personalities and dynamic. If you want to skip ahead and read more about the members later, I highly recommend trying the first episode of Showtime before coming back to read the member profiles below.
♥ SEHUN
♥ KAI
♥ TAO (INACTIVE)
♥ D.O.
♥ CHANYEOL
♥ CHEN
♥ BAEKHYUN
♥ LAY
♥ SUHO
♥ KRIS (INACTIVE)
♥ LUHAN (INACTIVE)
♥ XIUMIN
♥ POPULAR RELATIONSHIPS
♥ BEST VARIETY APPEARANCES
Full Name: Oh Sehun (Hangul: 오세훈; hanja: 吳世勳)
Nickname(s): Sehunnie, Ggukggukie (pouty face)
Birthdate: April 12, 1994
Height: 183 cm / 6'0" (and growing)
Role/Specialty: Main Dancer, Rapper, Visual, Maknae
Superpower: Wind
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: To me, the easiest way to identify Sehun is by his very straight brows, which are closer to his eyes than most of the other members. Many other idols have also expressed an admiration for his jawline, which is rather sharp and long. In group videos and shots, he's also relatively easy to pick out as one of the tallest members of EXO.
As the maknae (youngest member) of EXO, Sehun's emerging personality gives a hint of just how much he's used to being cherished by his hyungs (older brothers). In South Korea and many other parts of East Asia, there's a pretty strict social hierarchy that age plays a large factor in; in fact, South Korea even has different speech levels to reflect this hierarchy (seven in total). These days, speech has largely simplified to two different formality levels, referred to as jondaemal (존댓말; formal Korean) and banmal (반말; casual Korean). When referring to individuals who were born in an earlier year or have a greater amount of experience, it's critical to use jondaemal speech — hence, Sehun has to speak formally to almost all of his hyungs.
sehun-ah, let umin-hyung protect you from the cold (ft. xiumin)
Typically in Korean idol groups, the maknae is usually singled out across a few fronts. First of all, they are the member that all the others seek to protect the most. It isn't uncommon for hyungs to speak of how much they love their baby member, how they've mentored their dongsaeng (younger sibling) and watched them grow. If you watch interviews with the whole of EXO, they will often praise Sehun for how much he's grown since their debut. Secondly, the maknae usually has the responsibility of serving his hyungs in simple situations, such as serving food. And finally, maknaes are often the members called out most to perform aegyo (애교), which is a term that refers to a cute display of affection. The slight irony in having Sehun perform aegyo is the fact that he doesn't physically look like the youngest member of EXO, and more broadly, his appearance doesn't immediately lend to such coquettish acts — but all of the members will very quickly declare Sehun as having the best aegyo, which is a bit of a wink-wink-nudge-nudge to poke fun at their younger brother.
an example of aegyo
As a result of being the maknae, Sehun's personality tends to be a little more playful and carefree than his hyungs. He gets somewhat of a free pass to be immature, and within the group, can be considered somewhat spoiled. Often, members will cite how needy Sehun is behind the scenes, wanting someone to play with or talk to, even though Sehun hasn't typically shown as much of that neediness on the screen in front of the public. He's a boy who can't really hold still, a boy who's used to being the spoiled youngest sibling even in his own family, and that boyishness has sparked a rather considerable fandom. Even variety shows will highlight Sehun's inability to focus, and his fellow members have encouraged him on more than one occasion to get some mental training to help him settle down.
In spite of being a very weak singer and not the most natural at opening up on variety shows, Sehun is one of the more popular members — and the fact that he's very tall by Korean standards and continuing to grow only sparks further admiration and adoration from Sehun's fanbase. He tends to attract older female fans who are attracted to his youthfulness, and also enjoys a considerable Chinese fanbase as the only member of EXO-K to join Chinese social media.
one of the ways sehun teases the other members is by trying to provide fanservice (ft. chanyeol)
Truth be told, Sehun isn't the most hardworking member of the bunch, nor is he the most varied when it comes to his personal interests. It's a little unclear to me what he plans on doing after EXO, and I suspect it's most likely a bit unclear to him as well — after all, he is only twenty-one, and has spent most of his adolescence training for and performing as a member of EXO. He does want to continue in the entertainment industry, and studied at an arts school before entering S.M. Entertainment with a strong focus in dancing, but I think he's the type who might be best suited in the long run to take on comedic side roles in dramas or on variety shows. He has just enough of an acid tongue to poke fun at the people around him, but he's definitely not a natural leader, and I think he's fine with that. In many ways, he's South Korea's precious younger brother, often recognized for his cute little quirks, including an expression that can only be likened to that of grumpy cat.
His most recent new foray has been into acting. In EXO's pseudo-wish fulfillment drama, EXO Next Door, he has one of the bigger supporting roles and has shown some talent in comedic timing.
he'll make this expression very often when the focus is not on him
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Sehun Teases Chanyeol • As Chanyeol is a fairly playful member, Sehun seems to particularly enjoy teasing him whenever he gets the opportunity, more so than he might some of his more serious hyungs.
Sehun's Kiyomi • A song most frequently performed in order to showcase aegyo is "Kiyomi," which is a counting song that's accompanied by various cute gestures. Featuring bonus Sehun rainbow hair.
Sehun's Aegyo • Sehun is embarrassed as he demonstrates some examples of how he performs aegyo around his fellow members in order to get out of doing chores.
Sehun Dance Solo • Since I've been poking fun at Sehun for practically his entire section, let's end with where he shines the most: his dancing.
Full Name: Kim Jongin (Hangul: 김종인; hanja: 金鍾仁)
Nickname(s): Dancing Machine
Birthdate: January 14, 1994
Height: 182 cm / 5'11.5"
Role/Specialty: Main Dancer, Visual, Vocalist, Rapper
Superpower: Teleportation
Family: Father, Mother, Two Older Sisters, Three Dogs
Distinguishing Features: Perhaps the most frequently cited physical trait of Kai's is that his complexion is naturally darker and tanner than the rest of EXO. I personally think that his nose and lips are the most recognizable traits, both of them being rounder than that of the other members.
If there is one person who best represents EXO, it is Kai. The first member to be introduced as a member of EXO, and generally the first one to grace their music videos as well, Kai is nothing short of a giant ball of charisma who knows exactly how to work a crowd and earn the hearts of millions. He's known for being an extremely hard worker in addition to everything else; he's been dancing since he was a few years old, ballet and jazz and everything in between and he's expressed many times how he doesn't plan on stopping in his attempt to become an increasingly proficient dancer and performer. Even those who aren't big fans of EXO tend to recognize his face, and chances are that EXO wouldn't have gone as far as it has today without Kai's smooth dance moves and his ability to completely win over the camera.
kai will consistently call people out for being superficial
The fact that Kai is the member whose merchandise tends to sell out fastest is actually a pretty big deal for reasons outside of his own personality. In South Korea, and much of East Asia, pale skin is looked upon as the most desirable complexion; many are probably familiar with the fact that South Korea produces many skin bleaching and whitening products, and there are plenty of filters and Photoshop tricks that get used to make celebrities' skin look smooth and pale. However, Kai's complexion is the darkest among his group — and beyond that, he's been comfortable enough to be outspoken about the type of impact that it had on him as a child, when he was frequently bullied for his skin tone. This type of colorist view is still very prevalent in Korea, and in fact even fellow members of EXO often tease Kai in ways that are a little uncomfortable to watch from our point of view, but Kai has been one of the pioneering voices as of late that has decried the implicit hierarchy and classism in the preference for lighter skin.
In general, it seems that Kai's personal experiences and his close relationship with his two older sisters has made him aware of the problematic attitudes towards physical appearances. He's one of the quickest to decry jokes about the way people look, and he's very outspoken about loving all of his fans who also have darker complexions, calling them part of his family. In most other aspects of life, he's playful and boyish, but in this area, he's very determined to get the message across, even if it takes some time.
TICKLE ATTACK (ft. chen)
And in a way, that also represents Kai's greater personality on the whole. Sometimes he can be a mischievous little kid, reveling in his status as one of the youngest members, but underneath everything is a lot of drive and focus. Kai's devotion to the art of dancing has been referenced countless times by his peers and seniors alike; when he was still training, Kai was usually the first person into the dance studio and the last out, sometimes even sleeping in the studio itself overnight. He spends a lot of time watching himself in the mirror, trying to get his expressions and movement just right.
But it all comes at a cost as well. Kai has had some lingering injuries since shortly after EXO's debut that have never had a real chance to heal, and it's starting to become apparent in their most recent comeback, where many view the choice to keep Kai out of the center position in Call Me Baby as the first effort towards giving him something of a break from the spotlight. The most notable injury of his is a waist injury that often keeps him from participating in the more physical activities during variety shows, and there are plenty of fan accounts around that worry about whether or not Kai is in a constant state of pain during their longer promotions. The true extent of the injuries is not something any of us are privy to, but Kai probably needs a long break, and needs it soon.
wardrobe malfunctions happen when you're a dancer (ft. suho)
He may be the last person to admit it, though, because Kai is a perfectionist. And Kai constantly wants to improve, strives for a better stage, wants to best some of his idols in the area of dance. He is modest almost to a fault, expressing often the fact that he doesn't think that he's necessarily a phenomenal dancer, and that he has a long way to go before he'll be anywhere near satisfied with himself. In that way, the playful smile that Kai wears belies his dedication.
kai is totally a fluffy dog person
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Kai and Puppy • No, seriously. Kai is totally a fluffy dog person. He already has three poodles of his own, but still finds the time to dote on dogs whenever he has the opportunity.
Kai Solo Mini-Interview • Kai tends to be fairly serious in interview segments, and this clip showcases that very well. He answers questions seriously and thoughtfully. Bonus mention of his beloved older sisters.
EXO's Dancing Machines • Kai isn't the only member highlighted in this clip, but it gives a good glimpse at the dancing prowess of various members. Damn, Kai.
Full Name: Huang Zitao (Chinese: 黄子韬)
Nickname(s): Zitao, Kung-Fu Panda, Peacock Brother, AB Style
Birthdate: May 2, 1993
Height: 183 cm / 6'0" (and growing)
Role/Specialty: Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Maknae
Superpower: Time Control
Family: Father, Mother
Distinguishing Features: Tao is immediately recognizable for his eyes, which have dark circles underneath them and protrude a little from his face (something he used to be self-conscious about, but since has accepted as a point that endears his fans).
Even though Sehun and Kai are technically younger, Tao is probably the single member who acts the most childish and spoiled in the band (especially with the EXO-M subgroup, where he is the maknae). An only child thanks to China's One Child Policy, Tao was raised in a well-to-do family and was well-provided for as a child, which may have contributed to his somewhat spoiled personality and need for attention. He's frequently acknowledged as being the most childish member in EXO, but he's so earnest and sincere in everything that he does that one would be hard-pressed not to love him — he gets excited about taking selfies, he's very quick to praise his fellow members and thank them for remaining with him, and he's probably the most vocal in expressing how much he wants EXO to stay together forever.
one might liken him to a puppy who requires a lot of praise (ft. xiumin)
But don't let the childish appearance fool you — more than almost any other member, Tao has diligently worked to establish his place in EXO and improve on his skills across both singing and dancing. It's worth noting that Tao was one of the members who received the least amount of training before his debut; only Baekhyun and Chen trained for a lesser amount of time before EXO's debut, and as both of them are Korean, neither experienced quite the same degree of culture shock and language gap that Tao did. The other members of EXO will frequently express their admiration for how quickly Tao has picked up on the Korean language, and how well he has adjusted to life in Korea, which is no doubt due to Tao's own resilience and determination to do well in the band. He went from a member who was probably scouted for his unique skill in martial arts to a member who is often at the forefront of the band, known for his sharp dancing and rapping talent (the latter, even in Korean).
One of the more recent motivating factors in Tao's training has been the shock of losing Kris, and later Luhan, from the band. Before Kris' departure, it was clear that he was the member that Tao idolized most within EXO; wherever Kris went, Tao would follow, admiring Kris' very masculine and cool image. The two were practically inseparable in a brotherly way — or so everyone thought, until Kris took his leave of EXO without first informing any of the other members. To Tao, this was a very deep betrayal and he was left deeply hurt, unable to hide his tears when interviewed about the situation on variety shows, and fairly vocal on social media about how he appreciated and loved the members who stayed.
Some of the other members of EXO-M have reconciled with Kris since his departure — most notably, both of the other Chinese members (Luhan and Lay) have had evidence pointing to their continued correspondance. However, Tao seems not to have forgiven Kris, refusing to follow any of Kris' social media accounts even now.
a maknae receiving affection from his hyung (ft. chen)
Tao has expressed desires of eventually becoming an action star, and has also hinted that he would like to take up action roles not only in his home country, but also in South Korea as well. But for the time being, there's no doubt that his greatest focus is on making sure that EXO emerges well from their recent drama. While Tao was not a very popular member shortly after the group's debut, he has begun to earn more and more fans as he continues to express his love for his fellow members.
There is quite a bit of concern, however, surrounding the fact that he may be working himself too hard. As he is a member who was scouted for his near acrobatic moves and athleticism, Tao has often found himself physically pushed to the limit. One of the frequent moves that he has performed in their title songs, a turning side flip, has resulted in his waist receiving plenty of injuries over the past few years. Currently, he is resting from promotions of their latest single, "Call Me Baby," because a few leg injuries in quick succession have left him in a state of constant pain and in danger of sustaining more permanent injuries.
tao will frequently cuddle or cling to his fellow members (ft. sehun)
Undoubtedly affectionate, Tao is a boy who needs to give and receive a lot of love, and in that way, is probably one of the most adorable members of EXO. He continues needing to fight a lot of factors working against him — his injury, the doubt that's often cast on Chinese members of K-pop groups, and he's not very secure in his physical appearance either — but his hardworking personality and perseverance have opened him up to more success as of late, and everyone's hoping that his recovery will be speedy and that he can get back to his quickly rising momentum in Korea.
blond tao running to tackle and embrace his precious hyung (ft. baekhyun)
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Tao: EXO's Most Childish • The members explain why Tao is the most childish member, down to his need to shower with the other members. Features a lot of Tao pouts.
Tao's Shower Fears • For some reason, a lot of the Tao-specific clips on YouTube are about his need for someone to accompany him to the shower.
Peacock Brother Tao • This clip is from shortly after EXO's debut, when Tao was clearly still shy, but he embraced the fun that the hosts and his fans had with his outfit and has since called himself 'peacock brother' many times.
Full Name: Do Kyungsoo (Hangul: 도경수; hanja: 都暻秀)
Nickname(s): Heenjabuja (Sclera-Rich), Satansoo (by international fans)
Birthdate: January 12, 1993
Height: 173 cm / 5'8"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist
Superpower: Superhuman Strength
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: D.O.'s two features of greatest note are his heart-shaped lips (especially when he smiles), and the fact that his sclera (the whites of his eyes) are very prominent and noticeable. He also has some self-consciousness about how narrow his shoulders are.
The most outwardly serious of the members of EXO, D.O. is a talented young man who has started to propel himself into mainstream success with his recent and successful forays into acting. He's fairly well-known as a result of his very distinctive appearance, as a rare example of someone who's gained significant popularity in spite of the fact that he doesn't look like the typical male Korean idol. Even though his appearance looks like it would lend well to coy behavior and aegyo, D.O. draws a sharp contrast with his cutting remarks and almost constant poker face, which only dissolves away when he's on the stage or in the middle of a performance. In many ways, D.O. exemplifies the ideal of the boy next door, the earnest and hard-working young man that all parents especially love.
i don't know what he's trying to do with this handbag
Aside from a distinct weakness in rapping, D.O.'s individual talents are both varied and strong. He, along with Baekhyun and Chen, is considered to be part of the trio of EXO's strongest vocals, with a tone that's slightly lower than the other two. And while he isn't often singled out for his dancing against the EXO-K dancing machines Kai and Sehun, D.O. has always shown himself to be capable of keeping up with choreography. As a result of his rising popularity and his youthful appearance, D.O. was given a secondary acting role in the film Cart, a film based on true events which took place in Korea where a large number of contract workers were laid off without warning. His emotional performance earned him many accolades, which opened up an even more visible role in the popular drama, It's Okay, That's Love, which included some major veteran actors.
Throughout his career, many have expressed that D.O. is extremely polite and persevering even off-camera. The other members cite how well D.O. takes care of them all, offering a listening ear and mentorship across multiple fronts. He's also known for being a talented cook within the group, especially for his spaghetti, and has even purchased a takoyaki cooker. Many veteran actors have expressed their deep surprise upon learning that D.O. was a popular idol — many idols are known for being high-maintenance around the set, and also not necessarily very talented when they just get started — and D.O. has maintained close friendships with many of these actors even after wrapping his roles. In short, D.O. is cherished and loved by many, an example of the upstanding type of person whom all adore.
the difference between d.o.'s acting and his true, linefaced self
As for where he wants to go, D.O.'s recent success in acting has encouraged him to be more vocal about the fact that he's always dreamed of being an actor. He's known for being an avid movie watcher, and to him, language is no barrier — he'll rewatch the Lord of the Rings trilogy frequently, he's expressed before that Amanda Seyfried is his ideal woman, and he'll sing plenty of songs in English, sometimes with hardly any noticeable accent at all. He's gradually coming out of his shell more, frequently making appearances on radio shows, and is learning how to navigate the broader entertainment space rather than being confined to activities that are traditionally seen as idol work.
He's been the subject of some dating rumors, mostly as a result of being spotted wearing or using similar items as Girl's Day member Sojin, further fueled when the latter posted an Instagram picture of her nails, where one nail read 'I ♥ DO' — but there's really been no confirmation either way. However, the fan backlash has been strong, forcing Sojin to lock down her Instagram.
from squishy to scary in two seconds flat (d.o. has revealed that his squinting is because of poor eyesight)
In short, out of all of the EXO members, D.O. seems currently best poised to break out of the usual 'idol' image in Korea. He's shown a wide variety of talent, he's earned the respect of acting veterans, and he has the type of squeaky clean image that the older generations love. There's a good chance that he might end up somewhat typecast in his opportunities thanks to his youthful appearance, but for now, he's picking up a lot of momentum and is sure to go far.
fuck his life
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Cart OST: Crying Out • D.O. was recently featured in a movie, Cart, which was based on true events that took place in South Korea over labor disputes. I've yet to watch the movie, but D.O.'s solo song is beautiful.
D.O.'s Member Ranking • D.O. gives a very frank, subdued ranking of the members by his own physical tastes. It's adorable how much the members care about his opinions.
It's Okay, That's Love (Clip) • Trigger warning for physical abuse. This is a clip from D.O.'s first serious role in a drama which focused on mental health and recovery. I link it because he made me cry.
Full Name: Park Chanyeol (Hangul: 박찬열; hanja: 朴燦烈)
Nickname(s): Happy Virus, Yoda
Birthdate: November 27, 1992
Height: 185 cm / 6'1"
Role/Specialty: Main Rapper, Visual
Superpower: Fire
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Sister
Distinguishing Features: Chanyeol is the tallest of the active members of EXO. He also has very noticeable ears that protrude in a manner that, per Baekhyun's comment, reminds some of Yoda.
There's a reason why Chanyeol refers to himself as EXO's voice — and it isn't because he views himself as the group's top vocalist. Chanyeol is basically a person who never stops talking. He's a condensed ball of sunshine who will insert himself into every conversation and situation possible with great enthusiasm, and is particularly skilled at helping to break the ice for the rest of the members. Out of everyone in EXO, Chanyeol can be considered the most skillful of them all at variety show appearances — he has a sharp mind and good reflexes, and is unafraid of making fun of himself if it earns a few extra laughs. A few choice appearances and upcoming roles are positioning Chanyeol to potentially be someone who can break into mainstream Korean households with his appeal.
he's really not kidding about being the visual
The nickname of Chanyeol's that has stuck the most over the years is Happy Virus. Even off camera, members have described Chanyeol as being somewhat of a mood maker for the group. He tends to be very optimistic and a complete prankster, and along with Baekhyun and Chen, composes one third of the beagle line — members who are yappy and enthusiastic like beagle puppies. Whenever members are asked which of the group they consider very dateable, Chanyeol's name tends to come up as someone who would be exceedingly nice to the person he dates. He's appeared on more pseudo-reality shows than any of the other members, and unless he's just incredibly talented at knowing exactly when to smile for the camera, it feels like there is rarely a moment when he doesn't have a smile on his face and a laugh for his companions.
That said, Chanyeol does have a more serious side which surfaces when he works deeply on his music. Chanyeol plays multiple instruments, and has demonstrated through late night posts to his Instagram that he stays up to spend a couple of hours on composition whenever he gets a chance. He might not necessarily have the vocal range that some of his fellow members do, largely because his voice is so low, but he certainly does have a sense and love for music. Other areas are... a little more varied. He's probably the weakest dancer in the entire group, and his serious acting chops are in the midst of being tested — he recently landed his first serious acting role in the upcoming film, Jangsoo Shop.
having broken into tears, chanyeol turned the moment around by poking fun at himself
While Chanyeol has expressed a desire to try many things, I believe that music is where his heart will lie at the end of it all. He's been vocal about wanting to someday compose the title song for EXO, although we've yet to see one of his compositions be included in EXO's albums. In all else, I think Chanyeol is quickly trying to grab onto whatever opportunities he can while he has more of the public's attention.
However, that grab for attention has its drawbacks. There is a small, but vocal minority within the fandom who have started to tell Chanyeol off for the tactics he uses to pull attention to himself — namely, when he puts down his fellow members. Having watched a lot of these segments, I don't honestly believe that he makes teasing remarks with deeply malicious intent; one of the members he teases the most is Kai, often bringing up his darker complexion, which is a sore point for Kai, but the two of them still seem to largely get along and indeed share a room at the EXO dormitories. This type of behavior has earned Chanyeol a fair amount of antis who have sometimes taken to his Instagram to leave very negative and at times violent remarks; if Chanyeol has noticed, he hasn't commented directly on it. However, his mother has expressed that Chanyeol has been under a large amount of stress lately, sleeping poorly to the point where his complexion is heavily breaking out. If you ask me, all of the boys are probably exhausted.
s w a g
Still, if there's one thing that Chanyeol can be counted on, it's to provide his characteristic smile and v for victory signs wherever he goes. In many ways, Chanyeol has been instrumental in bringing the boys out of their shells, especially within EXO-K. And while he hasn't yet broken major ground on the dreams he aspires to most, Chanyeol has shown no signs of stopping in his attempt to compose a song that's truly remarkable and that he can share with his fans.
the most delicious peep to exist
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
EXO's Dorms • Chanyeol spent some time on the Korean celebrity equivalent of Big Brother, "Roommate." Here, he packs in preparation.
Love Is An Open Door • Also from "Roommate," Seho wanted to perform a lipsync of "Love is An Open Door" with someone, and Chanyeol's singing and English skills happened to be the best. Cute accent ensues.
Happy Camp: Skit with Sehun and Luhan • When given an opportunity to showcase his charisma and fan appeal, Chanyeol came up with... this. Bonus points for such heavily accented Chinese.
Full Name: Kim Jongdae (Hangul: 김종대; hanja: 金鐘大)
Nickname(s): Funky Chen, Chensing Machine, Joy Jongdae
Birthdate: September 21, 1992
Height: 178 cm / 5'10"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist
Superpower: Lightning
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: Chen is typically known for two things: the way his lips curve up at the corners, and his sharp cheekbones. He's also been described as looking strangely like a dinosaur thanks to his jawline and a camel thanks to his heavy eyelids.
Another endlessly positive member, you can always tell when Chen is around by his telltale laugh. The kid laughs at everything. Chen has a sort of sidekick type of feel, able to smile at just about anything and eager to laugh at anyone's jokes, and he has always been pointed out by fellow members as someone who is endlessly kind and positive. As one of the members who received the least amount of training before joining EXO, Chen is an interesting dichotomy of sorts — on the one hand, his vocal talents are by far some of the best that S.M. Entertainment has ever had the honor of representing; on the other, his dancing and ability to hold his own on variety shows has been shaky at best. But Chen takes all of that in stride and diligently tries to improve, day by day.
chen will never stop halfway when he attempts something, even if it results in regret
Of EXO's vocal line, Chen is by far the individual who showcases the best range, and there's no one else that the members will turn to when asked who has the best and steadiest high notes. While Baekhyun is just about as talented at staying on key, Chen has the power and breath control that his peers don't, and he's pleased at any opportunity to show this skill off in full. He has stopped performances halfway through before and requested for the back-up vocals to be turned off so that he can showcase his true live singing. At the same time, praises of his singing are met with modesty; as the skill set that he's most developed in, Chen is quick to point out that he still has so much more to learn and so much that he can improve on. Meanwhile, his Achilles' heel of dancing is something Chen loves to be praised on. He's made massive strides lately in his ability to move with the beat, to the point where Kai's expressed genuine surprise at Chen's potential, and it's clear that Chen enjoys a good, self-effacing challenge.
His personality is a simple one. Unlike his fellow beagle line members Chanyeol and Baekhyun, Chen isn't someone who usually makes jokes at another person's expense; if anything, he'll spend a lot of time gushing about the virtues of each one of his fellow members, older and younger alike. Sometimes, this brings him a tiny bit under the fire of fans who find him too agreeable, who want him to show stronger opinions and desires, but frankly, Chen seems to be one of the members who most takes his idol life in stride and focuses his time on his strengths.
pranking his precious little brother (ft. tao)
Even when it comes to career aspirations, Chen has clearly stated that he has absolutely no desire to start an acting career. He also hasn't jumped at any opportunity to act as a variety show host or MC, and while he's perfectly capable at holding his own during radio segments where he's invited to speak, he's also quick to remain quiet if there are enough other members to fill in the space and time. Chen is the type of individual who's pretty satisfied with the core skills that being a member of EXO requires, and in all else, would rather help to better promote his fellow members. He was one of the first to talk about how hard Xiumin has been exercising lately, he's one of the few who will repeatedly mention how handsome he finds Lay — Chen tends to focus on trying to bringing underappreciated members into the spotlight however he can.
did you not learn your lesson the first time, dude?
Ultimately, Chen is an individual who's been raised to live happily, and that makes him an absolute delight to follow. With EXO's time as a full group being somewhat limited, it can be a little worrisome to wonder what might happen to Chen once the group is forced to focus on individual activities. My fingers are personally crossed for a solo debut at some point, and I've decided that I want him to sing the theme songs to every K-drama ever.
here's looking at you, kid
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
It's Okay, That's Love OST: Best Luck • Remember that drama that D.O. was featured in? Adorably, Chen was asked to sing a song for its soundtrack. I love Chen's voice so much.
Chen Reunited with Friend • A pretty touching segment where Chen was fortunate enough to hear from a friend he'd lost touch with while on the radio. It shows his guilelessness and sincerity.
High Note Battle • Chen is the member most known for his powerful high notes, but would he win a high note battle in EXO?
Full Name: Byun Baekhyun (Hangul: 변백현; hanja: 邊伯賢)
Nickname(s): Bacon
Birthdate: May 6, 1992
Height: 174 cm / 5'8.5"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist
Superpower: Light
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: Baekhyun's eyes slant slightly downward, which used to be emphasized even further with lower line eyeliner in the early days.
The biggest prankster within EXO, Baekhyun is quite possibly the most popular member of EXO in Korea because he really doesn't have any weaknesses in the usual areas that idols cover. He's a very talented vocalist, he's a decent dancer, has fledgling acting chops, and even fares well on variety shows. The fact that he's pretty conventionally handsome doesn't hurt, either. Baekhyun is the sort of individual whom you sometimes want to hate — the type of person who was undoubtedly popular before his debut and for whom all the pieces always seem to fall neatly in his favor — but he's full of just enough warmth and charisma that he gets away with it, anyway. While Kai probably remains the well-known face of EXO across the country, Baekhyun is the one who incites the most stanning among the EXO fandom.
he may be the main vocalist but let's be real, he could also serve the role of visual
No matter what type of fire Baekhyun may or may not come under for his extensive trolling, there's one thing that absolutely no one can deny: the boy can sing. Before landing a spot as a trainee within S.M. Entertainment, Baekhyun had been admitted to a music and arts program for university, and as such, came into the company with a fair amount of technical training. This probably made it possible for him to debut as a member of EXO under a year after he was first inducted as a trainee. He's been praised frequently for his musical versatility, which is arguably more extensive than either of the two other vocal hard-hitters; while D.O. specializes in R&B and Chen knocks ballads out of the park, Baekhyun manages all that and more, being the first member of EXO to be cast in a leading role in a musical — a Korean adaptation of Singin' in the Rain.
Personality-wise, Baekhyun has the sharpest comebacks of all of the members of EXO. He's quick in finding cracks in another person's logic, quick and effective at imitating his fellow members, and in general, he's just a jokester through and through. Pre-debut photos suggest that this has always been the case — he's had some incriminating photos released that showed him completely red-faced while drinking underage. Baekhyun is something of a party boy, and his humor can be just as crass (he's the most likely to make racist jabs), but fame does seem to have done some good for him in this regard. Even though scandals aren't easy to deal with, they seem to have helped Baekhyun reflect and learn over time. At least, while he's in the public eye.
trolling his hyung with an ice-cold towel (ft. xiumin)
But his biggest scandal has nothing to do with his sense of humor. In June of last year, Baekhyun had incriminating photos of him released in a car making out with Girls' Generation leader, Taeyeon. Dating while a part of a young, up and rising idol band is generally considered to be a big no-no, and a sign of an artist not being completely devoted to their fans and their craft. And, make no mistake, sometimes idols feel very much entitled to their idols as a sort of wish fulfillment — idols will frequent express how they feel that they're practically dating their fanbases, after all. The backlash upon discovering Baekhyun's relationship was severe, with many fans feeling betrayed and belittled as they discovered little hidden messages that Baekhyun and Taeyeon left for one another through social media, and the wrath of EXO's fans fell upon Taeyeon as hate messages were spammed all over her social media accounts. After the scandal, Baekhyun became extremely quiet and mostly abandoned the use of social media, apologizing over and over to his fans. Only recently has he started to use Instagram again, and the public has no idea as to whether or not Baekhyun and Taeyeon are still dating.
In the long run, Baekhyun has expressed a desire to try a little bit of everything. Some acting, certainly continuing down the path he started with his singing, and he's been one of the members who's received the most opportunity to MC for shows. He seems to appreciate variety rather than sticking to one narrow thing, and the fact that he's still extremely popular in spite of all of his scandals means that he's a safe investment for S.M. Entertainment to throw at some solo activities. Chances are, we'll start to see more of him soon.
a more natural look without his trademark eyeliner
While Baekhyun's section here has been fraught with drama and intrigue, at the bottom of it all, he's very affectionate towards his fellow members. From looking out after the younger members, to cuddling up and acting coy around the older members, there doesn't seem to be any member of EXO that Baekhyun doesn't at least casually get along with. Ultimately, he's a bright, lovable kid who's likely to continue making waves in the industry.
selca game~
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Baekhyun's Member Ranking • Best watched right after D.O.'s Member Ranking. Baekhyun gets back at D.O. with his own ranking list.
I Got A Boy • Baekhyun gets super into singing Girls' Generation's "I Got A Boy" in an episode of Showtime. (Go watch the show. Seriously.)
Haunted House Visit • If you're planning on watching Showtime, hold off on watching this with the rest of the episode (especially since the video quality is low). Basically, Baekhyun's a scaredy-cat. I want to visit a horror house with him.
Full Name: Zhang Yixing (Chinese: 张艺兴)
Nickname(s): Xing Xing, Xing Tuo, Changsha Prince, Healing Unicorn
Birthdate: October 7, 1991
Height: 179 cm / 5'10.5"
Role/Specialty: Main Dancer, Vocalist
Superpower: Healing
Family: Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother
Distinguishing Features: The feature that tends to draw the most attention are Lay's heavy eyelids, which often give him the appearance of looking drowsy or zoned out. He also has a very deep dimple only on his right side.
Although you wouldn't know it at first glance, Lay is the single member of EXO who has been in the public limelight for the longest amount of time. At the tender age of two, Lay took to a stage for the first time, singing and performing in front of a large crowd without any fear, and his taste for performance persisted steadily through present day. Easygoing and relaxed in front of the camera, Lay was a child star with a small and loyal following in his home province in China, but decided to try his hand at music and performance in the South Korean market during the period when the Hallyu craze was going strong. Already accustomed to long hours and rehearsal schedules, Lay worked extremely hard during his period as a trainee, and is one of the most persevering members of the entire band. He believes strongly in the power of hard work, and is quick to encourage other people to chase after their dreams, claiming that anything is possible with enough time and dedication.
why don't you call me, baby?
In many ways, the easygoing and rather drowsy appearance that Lay has contrasts greatly with his aura on the stage. Lay is an absolute powerhouse when he's performing — he is the strongest dancer within EXO-M, and many are of the opinion that he's on par with Dancing Machine Kai as well. He comes to life when he's dancing, the focus sharp in his eyes. But the skill doesn't stop there; Lay is also a gifted composer, having been the first member of EXO who composed a song that was performed in their most recent live tour, "Promise." He's been composing songs since he was a child, and has talked on a few occasions about how he's composed songs for his ex-girlfriend when they were both teenagers. Another thing that casual fans don't always realize is that Lay comes more to life when he's in his home country; even though he's been diligently working in Korea, he feels most comfortable in China, where the language is familiar and the sense of humor more aligned with his own.
Off of the stage, Lay is, well, still a sweetheart. He seems to be one of the most earnest members of the band, marveling over the skills of his fellow members and quick to gush about them to anyone who will listen with a greater amount of specificity and care than someone like Chen does. While stories have suggested that he was somewhat of a clueless individual who needed looking after in the beginning, recently, he's come more into his own, and you can start to spot that assertiveness in group interviews. And, whereas most of the other members are entirely embarrassed by their concept superpowers, Lay truly seems to enjoy the fact that he's had healing designated to him, a power that aligns incredibly well with his caring and nurturing personality.
the polite unicorn's attempts to be polite are derailed (ft. luhan)
Much like Tao, Lay has come under a ton of scrutiny in the wake of Luhan and Kris' departures. Recently, S.M. Entertainment announced that they granted permission for Lay to open up his own talent studio in China, where he'll be able to manage his own schedule and opportunities (except for music, which S.M. still holds all rights to), which they claimed was a result of Lay's strong loyalty and hard work with the company. The truth is probably that, after losing Kris and Luhan, S.M. knew that they couldn't afford to lose another Chinese member without seriously endangering their relationships with Chinese entertainment agencies, but Lay has been extremely vocal in supporting S.M.'s point of view. He's talked about how important it is that a Chinese member show that they can weather the difficulties, how it's important to protect the cultural exchange between Korea and China, and... well, he seems to believe it. He seems to be a true company man, able to admit that S.M. has its flaws, but much preferring to try and work through them together. None of that has stopped the Korean fan community from turning on him, highly suspicious of why Lay needs his own studio in China, and believing him selfish for seeking these solo activities and forcing the rest of EXO to promote without him.
Essentially, Lay is between a rock and a hard place. If he limited his promotions to what S.M. gave him, it would mean almost nothing substantial. But the moment he tries to find great opportunities in his home country, he's labeled as a flight risk and extremely selfish. Time will tell whether or not the netizen attitude will eventually get to him.
when lay's playfulness surfaces, he's nothing short of adorable (ft. kris and tao)
But at the end of the day, Lay's optimism, hard work, and loyalty make him one of my favorite members of EXO. He was recently selected by one of the most popular variety shows in China to show up as a representative of the upstanding, pure archetype, innocent and guileless with only his girlfriend's best interests at heart. He's also currently in the middle of filming for a movie that's being produced by Zhang Ziyi, so the opportunities are rolling in aplenty in China, and all fingers are crossed that he'll be able to pursue what's best for him while also being able to promote with the group he loves.
flashing that healing smile
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
I'm Lay (Solo) • The first public performance of Lay's self-composed and choreographed song, "I'm Lay."
Pepero Kiss with Sehun • The aim of this game is supposed to be to leave approximately two centimeters of the biscuit, but these two clearly didn't get the memo. D.O. approves.
Punishment Dance • As part of a punishment for losing a game, Lay was forced to perform a dance on a massage mat. Ow.
Full Name: Kim Junmyeon (Hangul: 김준면; hanja: 金俊勉)
Nickname(s): Junma, Just Rich, Mama
Birthdate: May 22, 1991
Height: 176 cm / 5'9.5"
Role/Specialty: Lead Vocalist, Leader
Superpower: Water
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother
Distinguishing Features: The funny thing is, I don't think Suho has any very distinguishing features, because he's so close to the ideal Korean idol face. Is 'handsome' an acceptable feature? I do find his brows strong and expressive.
When you start to familiarize yourself with Suho's personality, it becomes immediately clear why he was the individual chosen as EXO-K's leader. Even without looking to his age as a potential deciding factor, the thing that's immediately apparent about Suho is his exemplary personality — he is polite, he is considerate, and he cares about other people to the point of driving himself to tears and often. He is a young man who is tireless in his efforts to make sure that everyone is cared for and tended to, the first person who will mention any members who may be missing from a performance and wishing them a speedy recovery or return. While Suho may not necessarily be the most charismatic member, his tendency to be overly earnest and dorky makes him all the more lovable and precious. He truly embodies his stage name, Suho, which means guardian in Korean.
work that wink, leader-nim
Suho's path leading up to his debut with EXO was not an easy one. He trained for over six years before he was able to debut with the band, which is longer than the typical 2-3 years that a Korean idol has to train before giving a chance to debut. He's talked at length before over the grueling training process, how he almost lost hope so many times, especially as he watched peers who had entered the trainee system later than himself go on to make their stage entrances. According to Suho, he was on the cusp of giving up and deciding to go back to acting school when he was finally selected to be a member of EXO, and the rest is history. Perhaps because of how difficult his own training was, Suho has wound up being especially attentive of the needs of others, not only on a physical level, but also emotionally and mentally as well. All the members have expressed how loving Suho is at some point or another, and everyone cherishes their leader and his devotion to the band.
And yet, Suho isn't incredibly popular. Which isn't actually rare for the designated leaders of idol groups — sometimes the leaders are deliberately picked to be the most stable personalities, the ones who won't necessarily go on varieties and make a fool of themselves, or who won't stir things up by causing a scandal. Suho is reliable almost to a fault, but he is not the first person who comes to mind for any particular skill. He is a strong vocalist, but D.O. and Baekhyun generally eclipse him. He isn't a great dancer, but he isn't as disastrous at it as Chanyeol. He went to school for acting, but it was D.O. and Chanyeol who were first able to make major waves with their acting. Suho doesn't generally have any haters, but he also doesn't have a ton of super enthusiastic fans, and in that sense, he's a necessary lynchpin for EXO that doesn't necessarily shine the brightest in his own right. Which is, truthfully, kind of unfortunate.
suho protects his fellow members from having to discuss uncomfortable topics (ft. baekhyun)
It's a reality that Suho almost seems to acknowledge when he talks about his own future beyond EXO. He is almost impossibly devoted to his band, and to the broader S.M. Entertainment agency; he has expressed that he has a goal of eventually becoming one of the board of directors for S.M. Entertainment, and honestly, he'd probably be a great choice. Suho comes from a well-to-do background, which probably explains a lot of his mannerisms, and also lends well to the fondness that many people have for his character. He's a clean-cut man who looks great in a suit, and his personal experiences with the daily troubles of trainees and band members might make him a more moral voice to add to the leadership of S.M. Entertainment. Witness above, for example, Suho coming quickly to Baekhyun's defense when a reporter wanted to ask Baekhyun about the dating scandal with Taeyeon, inconsiderately referred to as the 'car accident' due to where they were discovered. Suho cares and loves deeply, always putting others first.
Many speculate that Suho also still has a strong desire to secure some acting roles, having been very devoted to taking acting classes before EXO, but there's a high likelihood that he won't let himself be immersed deeply into acting roles until EXO's schedules relax a little and more members seek individual activities.
not the prettiest crier in exo
In short, Suho is a generous soul who feels strongly for his friends and loved ones, and does everything in his power to protect them from harm. He may never be as popular as some of the other members, but he is an incredibly necessary glue that helps to hold his band together, and even if more members leave, it's highly likely that Suho will remain with EXO for as long as he is able.
his heart beats for you~
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Beautiful (Solo) • One of the tracks on EXO's latest album, "Beautiful," was performed as a solo piece by Suho on their concert tour. He's so earnest that I almost wish the song had remained his solo.
Suho's Letter to EXO • An example of how Suho praises and looks after his precious EXO members; this clip really shows how doting he is.
Suho's Solo Dance • When asked if there was any type of dance Suho could manage, it was mentioned that he knew some girl group dances. This ensued.
Full Name: Li Jiaheng (Chinese: 李嘉恒)
Nickname(s): Wu Yifan (Chinese: 吴亦凡), Fan-Fan, Galaxy, Kevin
Birthdate: November 6, 1990
Height: 188 cm / 6'2"
Role/Specialty: Main Rapper, Leader, Visual
Superpower: Flight
Family: Father, Mother
Distinguishing Features: Kris has a very long and fairly narrow face, which many view as having an especially masculine feel. His thick brows and high cheekbones complete the effect.
For years, S.M. Entertainment has been trying to break into the Chinese market, and Kris may have been one of their most successful efforts to date, although they never pulled completely through for him. Kris is a smooth talker, charismatic and undeniably handsome, and even though he wasn't necessarily the strongest singer or dancer, he had all the makings of a strong personality that had broad appeal in China. As the leader of EXO-M up until his departure from the band, Kris was absolutely critical in breaking the shyness of each of the other members, and it was clear from early on that he was leaned on often as the big brother figure who let everything slide easily off his back. EXO has said in the past that Kris was the member of the group who turned the most heads, and it's not all thanks to his considerable height.
his most attractive look to date
As mentioned above, Kris isn't a vocal powerhouse, and his sense of coordination and rhythm haven't accrued to a high level of skill on the dance floor. This is pretty typical among members who are designated as the rappers of their group — instead of those musical skills, the key is having confidence and an easy way of carrying themselves, which Kris has in spades. As a matter of fact, rap isn't even something that Kris has ever been passionate about (in the same way that Chanyeol is much more dedicated to composition and playing his guitar than he necessarily is about rap), but Kris forged ahead regardless and showed everyone that he had a good sense of how to cater his image to have that broad appeal. An added bonus is his high potential as an international figure — he speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and English (fluently, given that he spent much of his childhood living in Canada).
Unfortunately, S.M. didn't take full advantage of that star potential. While EXO-M drew a lot of attention in China shortly after its debut, EXO-K faced the challenge of high competition in the market. In order to differentiate the band, S.M. Entertainment decided to join the two subgroups for promotions — and the unfortunate consequence was that EXO-M members no longer had the time to pursue opportunities in the market that they were originally hired for. Kris went from being the most popular member to someone who hardly received any lines or close-ups in their music videos, and thanks to the language gap, Korean members were always prioritized for acting roles and variety segments. Combine all of that with the stress of not being able to travel home and see his family, and Kris' mental and physical health began to suffer. Facing issues with fatigue and arising heart conditions, Kris simply neglected to fly back to Korea after an EXO concert in China, and filed a lawsuit against S.M. Entertainment on the same day. He did not warn his fellow members before taking this action.
charming the girls over early
His action affected the group deeply. In spite of the fact that he did not receive a ton of screentime and public attention in his final months with the group, Kris continued to be one of the older members who helped gather and group the rest of the band. He had a confident personality that all the other members were drawn to, a playful personality and self-confident attitude that members loved to poke and make fun of, and for someone that the EXO boys viewed as a leader to leave without any forewarning had an enormous impact on their morale and confidence.
The question that everyone asks now is whether or not Kris has been able to reconcile with his former bandmates since his departure. So far, there's been no indication of him keeping in contact with any of the Korean members. None of them follow his social media, and he doesn't seem to follow theirs either. However, Kris has certainly met up with Luhan after the latter's departure from EXO; the two of them have been seen speaking cordially with one another, and were even scheduled to perform together before the drama coming from Korean media networks had the broadcast company shutting the plans down. Many also speculate that Kris has been in contact with Lay — the latter was recently spotted wearing the same jackets that Kris was once seen wearing, with the size being slightly too large for Lay. On the other side of the spectrum, Tao hasn't given any sign of reconciling with Kris at all.
sometimes questionable dancing
Since his departure, Kris' image has shifted subtly. While he still gives off as much of a cool image as he can with his fashion choices, Kris is no longer the leader within a group, and no longer a seasoned idol in his broader industry. Kris is now very much a new player in the Chinese entertainment industry, where he has expressed the deepest desire to break into the acting space, with music taking something of a secondary role. So far, reviews of his acting skills haven't been the most stellar — but in all fairness, he's only been in the one movie so far, and reviews of the other actors weren't fantastic either. However, Kris' momentum as an idol figure has remained strong; his social media accounts continue to be popular in China, his promotions and commercials attract a lot of attention, and he's even had a wax figure created of him through Madame Tussaud's. Leaving EXO was probably the best decision that Kris could have made for his physical and mental health; now what remains to be seen is whether or not he can be successful while flying solo.
made everyone shy with his cool aura
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Kris and Lay Truth/False Quiz • A cute little example of how Kris helped to bring his fellow members out of their shells in the earlier years.
Kris vs. Kai Dancing Battle • Kris decides that he wants to become a lead dancer in EXO... only to have the world tell him otherwise.
Kris Solo Interview • Showcases the confident persona that Kris held up around the other members, which made for quick rapport against the sharp-tongued Chanyeol.
Full Name: Luhan (Chinese: 鹿晗)
Nickname(s): Xiao Lu, Lulu, Little Prince
Birthdate: April 20, 1990
Height: 178 cm / 5'10"
Role/Specialty: Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual
Superpower: Telekinesis
Family: Father, Mother
Distinguishing Features: Luhan has a face that's typically seen as more delicate and feminine, with eyes that are especially innocent and wide.
The other members of EXO have often spoken of how much Luhan looks like he's lifted directly from a romance manga, and they're not exaggerating — Luhan immediately struck the fandom as being the prettiest member of the band, with beautifully molded features and a guileless appearance. It's an image that had Luhan a little defensive from the get-go, needing to remind fans and fellow members alike that he's assertive and masculine where personality and athleticism are concerned, but there's no doubt that S.M. took as much advantage as they could of Luhan's looks, dressing him up with tousled hair in shades of red and pink. Combined with his vocal and dancing skills, Luhan was an all-around powerhouse who reached great popularity in both China and South Korea.
why pick boys over flowers when you can have both?
Luhan was initially scouted by S.M. Entertainment while he was shopping in Myeongdong. As he had been studying abroad in South Korea, he spoke the language fluently, and after S.M. found that his vocal talent and dancing skills were formidable (he had auditioned for another entertainment agency a couple years prior), they immediately signed him on to become a trainee. As the second member of EXO who was introduced in their teasers, Luhan drew attention from the onset; although Kris was designated as the leader of EXO-M, Luhan was arguably the more popular of the two, having the right skill set and appearance to have broad appeal in East Asia. He impressed the Korean fandom with his mastery of the language; he was welcomed by the Chinese audience for being a boy from Beijing. His personality was rather middling — while Luhan wasn't the loudest or someone prone to a great deal of jokes, he also wasn't shy about speaking up when given the opportunity. His skills at creating fans through social media are considerable as well, with one of his Weibo (Chinese equivalent of Facebook) posts being the most commented Weibo post ever. (It was about soccer. Go figure.)
Towards the beginning of EXO's rocket to fame, all was well, but similarly to Kris, Luhan began to experience greater trouble once the two halves of EXO were joined together for promotions. EXO-M members were usually shunted to the side whenever promotions didn't require or couldn't handle a full dozen boys, and they also didn't receive many opportunities to promote as individuals. Luhan was able to briefly break out of this pattern when he was signed on to star in a Chinese remake of a popular Korean movie, 20 Once Again, and he deeply enjoyed his time filming. Unfortunately, the opportunities dried up again once they were done with production, and EXO threw itself into global promotions. The world tour was already exhausting to most of the members, but even more so for Luhan, who has acrophobia (a fear of heights), and often had to be sedated on their plane rides. Suffering deeply from exhaustion and depression, Luhan gave S.M. a grace period to adjust his working conditions, but as they failed to compromise, he filed a lawsuit a few short months after Kris' departure.
he has to admit, the photoshop job was good, he'd go for it
Unlike Kris, all evidence points to Luhan having told his fellow members of his intentions before leaving. In particular, fellow EXO-M member Lay took to Weibo around the time the lawsuit was announced, and while he did not name Luhan explicitly, he expressed a desire to take the stage again with his brother someday and that he supported said brother in all of his efforts and decisions. Members Tao and Xiumin also continue to mutually follow Luhan on various social media outlets, indicating that they may still be in some amount of contact; at his last performance as a member of EXO, it was also clear that some of the other boys were especially emotional and often had to provide physical support to keep Luhan standing upright. While sympathy was high for Luhan during the initial stages of his illness, since he broke his contract, S.M.'s efforts to smear his image have been somewhat successful, perpetuating the stereotype that Chinese members aren't loyal to Korean companies.
However, in China, Luhan remains just about the hottest trend ever. He has been chosen as the representative for a lot of top brands, including most recently Coach, and frequently graces various fashion magazines. He has yet to go back full-swing into his career, however, and recently released a statement apologizing for having turned down a lot of opportunities for appearances, citing a severe resurgence of his acrophobia, which he's doing his best to treat and manage. It's pretty clear that the stress S.M. put Luhan under has had a deep effect; in some interviews, he's even mentioned that he's not entirely sure he would try to be a singer again if given the opportunity to repeat the past several years.
werk them hips, luhan
All that said, there's no doubt that Luhan enjoyed his acting opportunities and enjoys taking the stage. As long as he's thoughtful about which jobs he accepts and stays in the general public limelight, chances are very good that he'll continue being successful in China. He's made a lot of recent connections thanks to the movie role, with veteran actors praising how quick and earnest of a learner he is. Some hold out hope that Luhan will be able to reunite with one or more EXO-M members someday in some capacity, but that remains to be seen.
baby deer, sleepy deer
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Back to Twenty Trailer • The trailer from the feature film that Luhan was featured in, Back to Twenty. Luhan plays the main character's grandson. Super cute.
EXO Girl Group Dances • There were some members of EXO who were bigger fans of girl groups than others; you can guess here based on their ability to dance from memory.
Tian Mi Mi • Luhan's soft, melancholy take on Teresa Teng's classic, "Tian Mi Mi."
Full Name: Kim Minseok (Hangul: 김민석; hanja: 金珉錫)
Nickname(s): Baozi (Steamed Bun), Mandu (Korean Dumpling), Umin
Birthdate: March 26, 1990
Height: 176 cm / 5'9.5"
Role/Specialty: Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, Lead Vocalist, Mathyung
Superpower: Frost
Family: Father, Mother, Elder Brother, Younger Sister
Distinguishing Features: As the only member of EXO who has monolids, Xiumin's large and almost cat-like eyes set him apart from the rest of the group. He also has a rather round face and delicate features, which have earned the description of fairy-like by fans.
And at last, we come to my all-time favorite member, Xiumin. The oldest member of EXO, Xiumin presents a great contrast across many fronts — in spite of being the eldest member, he arguably looks like one of the youngest; in spite of acting cute and coy, he's generally described as being both serious and very mature by the rest of the members. Xiumin is a member who has a much quieter appeal than the others, a young man who rarely speaks unless actively encouraged to, but something about the mix of his shyness and his unique appearance have made him immensely popular in South Korea. Even silent appearances frequently cause Xiumin to rise to the top of search trends, and even among older generations, Xiumin's face is easily recognized. There are some who speculate that it's Xiumin's wholesome boy next door image that make him as popular as he is, but no one really knows exactly what the cause of the trend is.
apart from wanting to continue performing, xiumin wants to get a barista license
Out of all the EXO members, Xiumin is probably the closest to what you might call an ascended fanboy. He is an incredibly avid fan of another band under S.M. Entertainment, TVXQ, and frankly admits that without TVXQ having paved the way for mainstream K-pop, EXO probably wouldn't exist (and he certainly wouldn't have become a member). His phone is always stocked with at least a few of their songs, and Xiumin even continues to attend their live concerts; one fan tells the story of how Xiumin once caught one of the signed balls that TVXQ threw into the crowd, and after briefly considering tossing it to another fan, he ended up pocketing the ball. And let's not even get started on how precious Xiumin is when he's around TVXQ member Changmin. Perhaps for this reason, Xiumin has always been known to be incredibly kind and gentle with fans at signing or meet and greet events.
It also motivates him where training is concerned. Even though he's never quite acknowledged publicly to the same degree, many point out that Xiumin's dancing ability is up there with the likes of Kai and Lay. His singing is also what got him accepted to S.M. in the first place, where he ended up being a finalist in one of their vocal scouting competitions (he originally signed up to accompany a friend, but ended up going far further — oops). Quietly, Xiumin has worked hard over the years to improve all elements of his performance, right down to his appearance. After having been dissatisfied with his lack of athleticism as a child, Xiumin has worked hard to find an exercise regimen that works for him, and in recent months, has become far more confident on the stage. It's this clear progress and persevering nature that endears him to a lot of fans; more than most other members, Xiumin has a significant fandom among women in their twenties and thirties, usually a few years older than Xiumin himself.
the fact that his sister crushes on chen is the bane of his existence
In spite of his popularity, Xiumin hasn't had a lot of solo activities over the years. And he's the first person who'll claim deep embarrassment over the fact that he rises so quickly in search trends. Many believe that Xiumin's lack of appearances until now is largely because of his general discomfort with speaking much in front of the camera. The jobs he seems to enjoy most are filming commercials and music videos, but he's also gradually gained more confidence on radio shows, more so when there are fewer members also present. Verdict is still out on where he'll go eventually, but Xiumin deeply believes in K-pop as an industry, so there is a chance that he may continue to stay in that sphere as long as he is able.
In his personal life, Xiumin is adored by all of his younger brother as someone reliable, someone cuddly, and a really fantastic roommate due to the fact that he is impossibly neat and tidy (though he currently stays in a room all on his own, probably because he doesn't want to deal with the boys' messes). The rowdier members are frequently seen teasing and trying to provoke Xiumin, and the quieter members will often cite Xiumin as the person whose company they enjoy the most. He's the type of person who gets along well with everyone, and the fact that he's the middle sibling in his family probably helps him understand how to play both the role of a protective older brother and that of an eager mentee; Xiumin is very close friends with many members of various older K-pop groups, both within and out of S.M. Entertainment, which only lends further to the impression he leaves of being a very genuine person.
let this man have children eventually
In short, Xiumin is loved because his image matches who he is, which comes with all of the small quirks that people generally have. He's terrified of pigeons, he's quietly sassy when using his butt, he lets his left hand hang limp for no discernible reason, and he's impossibly neat even when making a sandwich. As he builds up more and more confidence over the years, a lot of fans are eager to see where he goes and all that he learns in time. Fingers crossed for a drama appearance!
look for the man whose eye makeup is most on point
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
Xiumin's Showtime • A brief, minute-long segment where Xiumin stumbles his way through speaking Chinese. He's not that great at it, but his charisma is off the charts here.
Breakin' Machine • This is the one solo segment that Xiumin's gotten to perform to date within EXO. So many hearts and shimmies.
Baozi Expressions • Shortly after their debut, Xiumin took the nickname of Baozi that Luhan proliferated for him and just embraced it.
Mocha Bread • Anything Xiumin does immediately becomes a trend in Korea. After this one minute segment, Xiumin's name topped all the search trending lists in Korea, and mocha bread started selling out everywhere.
It's pretty hard to cover EXO relationships without generating enough content to merit another primer all on its own, so I'll briefly touch on the main points of EXO's most popular 'ships, leaving you guys to explore these friendships on your own if they sound interesting. If nothing else, the titles of each one of these relationships makes for a pretty easy search for content on the web or on Tumblr specifically. | |
 What do you get when you combine the two loudest and most playful members of EXO? A pair of best friends who live to tease one another. Baekhyun and Chanyeol are probably the two members most comfortable with joking around in front of the camera, and both of them are habitual pranksters. Combined with Chen, the three of them are often referred to as the 'Beagle Line' because of their puppy-like enthusiasm and chatter. Both Baekhyun and Chanyeol are also deeply musically inclined, between Baekhyun's prodigal talent with singing, and Chanyeol's love of composing music. Because both of them tend to be easygoing, they often choose one another as the butt of each other's jokes. Must Watch: Captain Hook Game • In which Chanyeol picks on Baekhyun a lot. And then everyone else picks on Baekhyun as well. |
 Chanyeol and D.O. (Kyungsoo) are a pair of opposites. On one end, you have Chanyeol, who is the biggest jokester in EXO; on the other end, you have D.O., who is serious to the point of being strict and severe. Chanyeol and D.O. have shared a room more often than not since EXO's debut, and in spite of D.O.'s frequent complaints about how loud Chanyeol is, the two of them seem to get along. They are foils to one another, and D.O. is one of the people who can most keep Chanyeol in line — most of the time. D.O. and Chanyeol are also the first two EXO members to pursue acting; Chanyeol has admitted to receiving mentorship on that front from D.O., who has been very successful in breaking into the acting industry. Must Watch: ChanSoo sing "Billionaire" • Being roommates gives these two a chance to practice a lot of duets. Adorable. |
 Generally acknowledged as the two best voices in EXO, Baekhyun and Chen joined EXO pre-debut around the same time, each only having about six months' dedicated time training with the rest of the group before they debuted. The two of them share a lot in common, from their immense vocal talent to their positive and teasing personalities. Of the two, Baekhyun is a lot more popular in Korea (partially thanks to the fact that Chen was busy promoting in China for the first year), and his personality seems to be more established when you watch them on variety shows — but there's no doubt that Chen is taking a note from his hyung and quickly building a brand of his own. Whenever the two of them are about, one can expect a lot of restlessness and cuddling. Must Watch: ChenBaek Sing "Really, I Don't Know" • They look uncharacteristically serious here, but I had to show off their singing ability. Beautiful. |
 I'll be honest with you: I don't know as much about this 'ship as I should, mostly because by the time I became an EXO fan, Luhan was already on his way to filing his lawsuit against S.M., and since Sehun and Luhan are from two separate subgroups, there's just less coverage of their friendship in general. From what I've gathered, the reason for Luhan and Sehun getting along is because both of them have rather playful personalities. Luhan didn't require the younger brothers to be too formal with him (likely because the age hierarchy is slightly more relaxed in China), which made him a favorite of the younger members. In spite of being a part of EXO-K, Sehun has worked hard to learn some Chinese and interact with that part of the fanbase, which I believe may be attributed in part to Luhan. Must Watch: Luhan Punishes Sehun • This clip showcases the playfulness between the two members, which breaks the usual pattern between hyung and dongsaeng. |
 Even though these two boys look very different at a glance, there's a seriousness that both Kai and D.O. (Kyungsoo) treat their craft with that makes it very easy for them to get along. They are both earnest, hardworking individuals, and there's probably a lot to their friendship that they haven't bothered putting in the public eye, given that both of them tend to keep personal matters closer to the chest. However, we have seen plenty of hints towards these two being especially close; in spite of the fact that D.O. is a full year older than Kai, he encourages Kai to speak to him using familiar speech. Kai is also one of the few members who can go right up and cuddle D.O. without the latter quickly batting the embrace away. These two have a lot of mutual admiration, and you never see one poking fun at or throwing shade at the other. Must Watch: D.O. Corrects Kai • An adorable behind the scenes conversation where D.O. corrects Kai on the way he wears rings. Kai is such a puppy around Kyungsoo. |
 It seems like a lot of the top 'ships involve D.O. (Kyungsoo) in some way. This friendship between D.O. and Suho (Junmyeon) is adorable because, again, it's between a pair who are the opposites in many ways, with Suho being about as chatty and extroverted as it gets, and D.O. being more of a private and quiet individual. As the leader of EXO, Suho often shoulders a lot of responsibility in looking out for the emotional and mental well-being of his fellow members, and has expressed how this position can be quite stressful; however, he's stated that the roles reverse when he's around D.O., who is the single member who looks most after their beloved leader and will listen to Suho when he needs an ear. That said, their closeness doesn't stop D.O. from being heavily embarrassed by Suho's behavior at times. Must Watch: Suho Pays for D.O. • The best D.O. interactions are the quiet ones. Here, D.O. is hungry and Suho lends his credit card without hesitation. |
 The reason for Sehun and Kai's closeness is probably clear: they're the two youngest members of EXO, and as such, feel less burdened around one another because there's no requirement for either to use formal speech around the other. It helps that both of them are generally playful and easygoing boys, both are also the youngest siblings in their respective families, and both have either directly or indirectly admitted to confiding a lot in the other. Both of them have their strengths in dancing, and as a result, have been close ever since the period before the group's debut, when Kai and Sehun specifically filmed some dance-focused teasers together. Of the two, Kai is a little more serious and determined, which is something that has only motivated Sehun to try harder in his own right. Must Watch: Kai and Sehun Learn Calligraphy • Encouraged by their hyungs to learn better focus, the two take a calligraphy class. |
 This might be just about the cutest 'ship in all of EXO. Suho and Tao are self-proclaimed mother and son. You heard me right — Suho and Tao both acknowledge that the beloved leader dotes especially much on the Chinese maknae in a way that is very motherly, and Tao often heads to Suho specifically in order to be spoiled and petted when he's feeling low. Suho is always especially proud of how far Tao has come since their debut, and when Tao is injured or otherwise out of commission, Suho is always the one who will publicly wish for Tao's speedy recovery during awards ceremonies. Witness even Suho's attempts to give Tao a piggyback ride in spite of the latter being far taller and heavier than Suho himself. This is parental devotion, folks. Must Watch: Suho Comforts Tao • I couldn't find a shorter clip of this moment, but you can see how willing Suho is to play mom to Tao. |
 Out of all of EXO's 'ships, Tao and Kris have probably the saddest progression and continue to be the subject of much speculation. During Kris' time in EXO, the two of them were each other's favorite members — they said as much during radio shows. Kris, who is not a person who sugarcoats, said outright that Tao was his favorite member; meanwhile, Tao would gush especially much about Kris' coolness and could be found attached to Kris' hip. There's a good chance that the only reason why Kris didn't tell Tao of his impending departure was to protect Tao from suspicion, but either way, Tao's trust in Kris was broken by that incident. Kris continues to follow Tao on social media, but whereas Tao still follows Luhan, he does not follow Kris. Some people believe the two are secretly in contact thanks to a lot of similar/identical fashion choices between them, but so far, there's been no definitive proof. Must Watch: Tao and Kris Rap Duet • Tao wanted to show off his Korean rapping skills, and was at a loss when Kris didn't join in as planned. |
 Lay (Yixing) and Chen (Jongdae) have a friendship largely forged by their kindness and eagerness to share each other's culture with one another. Both of them have very earnest personalities; you almost never see either of them being mean to other members, even in jest. Chen has often cited how Lay was the most patient member in guiding and showing him around when EXO-M was first debuting in China; in return, Chen has also clearly gone out of his way over the years to help Lay while in Korea. Both of them recently composed a song together, with Lay composing the melody and Chen writing the lyrics, and there are many who speculate that Chen's recent improvement in dancing and Lay's improvement in vocals can be attributed to the two helping each other. It's especially precious to see all the little ways in which they continue to be there for one another no matter where they promote. Must Watch: EXO's "Promise" • The song which Lay and Chen composed together. I'm hoping they'll release a studio version soon; it's a beautiful song. |
 As the two Korean members of EXO-M, it's not surprising that Xiumin and Chen quickly grew close during the time leading up to EXO's debut. The two of them are far apart in age that they fall into their roles easily; as the younger, more rambunctuous member of the two, Chen is the one who teases and brings Xiumin out of his shell, while Xiumin is able to bring the easily distracted Chen back to earth when he needs a little (or a lot) more self-discipline. Of the three beagle line members, Chen is the least outright mischievous, which helps to endear him more to Xiumin than either Baekhyun or Chanyeol; rarely do you see Xiumin smiling as widely and guilelessly as he does when he's around Chen. And out of all the members, Chen has been the most vocal and enthusiastic over the increased attention that Xiumin has received in their latest comeback, eagerly telling the tale of Xiumin hitting the gym hard whenever a chance arises. Must Watch: Barista Lessons • An unaired cut of a segment that was included in EXO's reality show; this video showcases the dynamic between the two well. |
 Both Xiumin and Luhan have confessed that they were first drawn to each other as trainees not only by the fact that they were the oldest members of the band, but also because of physical appearance (i.e. finding each other handsome). And that was enough to light up the imaginations of a million and one shippers. The two of them were just about as attached as the hip as anyone else while Luhan was a part of the band; they frequently played soccer together, they got coffee together, they cuddled, held hands, and fed one another, even when neither was aware of the camera being on them. Not to mention all of the very affectionate looks. Their friendship was an easy one, with Xiumin allowing Luhan to lead him whichever way Luhan desired, and there are multiple signs which suggest that they're still in touch today — notably, they still follow each other on social media channels where the both of them are active. Must Watch: Squat Punishment • See Luhan (red hair) go immediately to carry Xiumin (orange hair) for his part of the team punishment. Bonus twirling at the end. |
 Xiumin and Lay first met in their pre-debut years as two strong dancers who were brought under S.M. to train around the same time period. The two of them soon found that their personalities were compatible, and Xiumin in effect became the first native Korean peer of Lay's who devoted a lot of time and attention to guiding him around the country. Lay has spoken frequently of how valuable Xiumin's kindness was in those early years; Xiumin poured such attention towards making the Chinese members feel welcome that his own Korean grammar began to suffer as he picked up little tics in the Chinese members' speech patterns. And Lay has paid back the favor in kind — whenever Xiumin ends up promoting in China, it's Lay who tends to be the one to help translate and guide him around. Beyond that, Lay tends to dote on Xiumin whenever possible, constantly extols his hyung's virtues, and gets concerned whenever Xiumin overworks himself. They're a very affectionate pair. Must Watch: Xiumin and Lay Play Charades • In spite of barely speaking Chinese, Xiumin does a good job of understanding Lay's gestures. |
 By far the squishiest relationship within EXO, D.O. (Kyungsoo) and Xiumin are both similar in many ways, from their smaller stature to their tendency to remain quiet, from a serious focus on their work to similarities in their voices when a little effort is thrown in. Recently, the both of them have become a lot closer than they were towards the beginning of EXO's career, and I attribute that to the fact that EXO tends to promote now as an entire group rather than split up between its two halves. The fact that they are able to see eye-to-eye so well seems to encourage their closeness in other areas as well; they're both extremely playful and cuddly with each other in a way that they aren't often with other members. Xiumin and D.O. are often recipients of backhugs, but only with Xiumin do you see D.O. relax into the embrace. With both of them having recently expressed wanting to work with each other more, everyone's hoping to see more of this friendship in the months to come. Must Watch: Xiumin and D.O. Fanservice • A brief, adorable moment between Xiumin and D.O. during their latest solo concert tour; the fans go wild. |
No matter how many articles you read about EXO and its members, the places that really light up their personalities are the appearances that they have on variety shows. The absolute best show to watch is EXO's Showtime, which is a show composed of twelve hour-long episodes that was filmed shortly after "Growl" propelled them to mainstream fame, catching them at the point where they weren't deeply controlling their personalities yet. The other notable show is Happy Camp, which is a highly popular Chinese variety show that invites various hot guests of the time, and has a slightly different flavor and sense of humor than Korean varieties.
Below, I've included streaming links and a brief description of some of the highlights. I know that they're pretty long, but I recommend trying one or two to see if they're appealing to you (and if you're anything like me, you'll end up staying up far too late as you try to keep up with everything.)
| EXO'S SHOWTIME | |
| Episode 1 | An introduction to the twelve boys of EXO, where they are delightfully awkward and confused. They include a segment on who they each consider to be the most handsome, how to identify the boys by appearance, a challenge for each one of the boys to eat a fried chicken apiece, a request for each boy to come up with a 'love wink,' and finally landing on a slogan and show gesture. |
| Episode 2 | This episode is a very casual episode which showcases some of the activities that the boys take part in after they finish their grueling filming schedules. Examples include a trip to Hongdae (a popular destination for young adults with lots of places to shop and get food), a visit from Kai's three poodles, a biking excursion along the river that ends with more food, and a solo trip by D.O. to the movies. It's a slow episode, but does a good job of showing the boys' natural behaviors. |
| Episode 3 | In this episode, the boys secretly shop for presents for Chanyeol's birthday, under the guise of an end of year gift exchange. Again, it shows the boys' various types of mischief as they seek presents as well as some of the stronger friendships within the group. At the end, Chanyeol is asked to guess which present came from which member, which... ends up being a greater trial than he anticipated. |
| Episode 4 | This episode serves as the show's Christmas episode, starting off with a White Elephant exchange of presents under 10,000 won (~10 USD), then shifting into a strength competition by means of arm wrestling, and ending with a discussion of how easily the different members cry — tested by a group watch of the film Miracle in Cell No. 7, which is a real tearjerker. |
| Episode 5 | The boys head out on their first group trip, and this episode focuses on the roadtrip as they get there (including some fun pranks at the rest stop and insight into different food choices) and some of their time playing on the beach once they arrive at their destination. |
| Episode 6 | Now that the boys have arrived seaside, they settle into the house that they're occupying for the trip. The boys split into different groups — some head out to buy food, some stay in the house and start some impromptu variety segments, and some... sleep. Once they're all gathered for dinner, D.O. and Chen head out to help grill meat, with mixed results. |
| Episode 7 | This episode focuses on the Chinese members of EXO, letting them express all the emotions they've been managing while working abroad and then taking them on a tour of some popular tourist locations (guided by D.O. and Baekhyun). The boys then all head to Chinatown, do a tiny bit of shopping, and gather for a group dinner of huoguo (hot pot). |
| Episode 8 | The members express some of the things that they want to accomplish in the new year, and viewers get to watch a few of their attempts. Sehun and Kai go to learn traditional Korean tea service; Tao, Kris, Suho, and Chanyeol go to study some martial arts; and Xiumin and Chen go to take some introductory barista classes. |
| Episode 9 | Viewers get a glimpse of the boys during various points of their daily practice. The vocal line is challenged to some high and low note competitions, as well as a rap battle. Chanyeol and Lay do some impromptu compositions together. And after the boys finish their dance practice, they're asked to see how long they can stay silent for as a group, which results in a game of 007... which not all members know how to play. |
| Episode 10 | This episode starts with a bowling competition where the boys split in half under leaders Chanyeol and Lay, and then shifts over to one of the best segments in the entire series, where the boys are taken to a haunted house and forced to go through the maze in groups of one or two. Some members deal far better with horror and shock than others. |
| Episode 11 | My favorite episode of Showtime is a full episode that tests the boys' alignment and "telepathic" powers. They go to a karaoke place, where each boy is sequestered in his own room; the members are asked a series of questions and asked to try and find the answer all members can agree on. Over the course of the challenge, a few oddball brains emerge. |
| Episode 12 (download only) | In this final episode of Showtime, the boys reflect on everything that they've done over the course of the show. Each boy expresses a specific regret that he's had about the show and is given the opportunity to turn it around. Some boys are more successful than others. |
| HAPPY CAMP | |
| 120609 EXO-M | The first appearance of EXO on Happy Camp, highlights of this episode are the use of the Ugly Meter app (a mobile app that ranks appearances) and a brief talent show to highlight member strengths. |
| 120721 EXO | This segment is shortened, and serves as the first time the Happy Camp audience was introduced to EXO-K members, as well as a coordination game where teams have to navigate a rather sparky maze. |
| 130706 EXO | Highlights of this episode include a self-ranking game where members have to position themselves along different personality attributes (and then validate by secret poll), as well as a game of eagle chasing baby chicks. |
| 140705 EXO | Highlights of this episode include a two team posing game (where members have to work together to recreate poses seen in pictures), a tour of the EXO's dorms, and the best segment of all, a group play of the Captain Hook game, where drinking bittermelon juice is the punishment for the losers. This episode is worth watching for that segment alone. |
| 150314 Lay | This episode of Happy Camp only features EXO-M member Lay, who was invited as one of three popular male archetypes — assertive, humorous, and pure. Guess which one Lay embodies? There are various segments designed to see how well each one of these different personalities understands women. |
| OTHER | |
| EXO Next Door | The first EXO drama which is being positioned as pseudo-realistic romantic comedy — all of the boys use their names, but the personalities they depict are often different than their real life personalities. The series primarily stars Chanyeol and D.O., with Baekhyun and Sehun in secondary roles, and the rest showing up as guests. |
| 130710 Weekly Idol | The hosts begin by trying to discern which members are Chinese and which are Korean, as well as requesting an introduction to the EXO members' superpowers. Another highlight is the high note battle between the members. |
| 130814 Weekly Idol, 2, 3 | Highlights of this segment include the ranking of fellow members by D.O. (for appearance only) and Baekhyun (for the entire package), as have been linked in the member videos above. Also includes a bunch of different dance-related requests, from freestyle to K-pop girl group dance covers. |
| Wangseja Subbing | A subbed video resource that regularly updates with new videos. |
| Kyungsoo Lover Subbing | A subbed video resource that regularly updates with new videos. Slight bias towards things that involve D.O., as is probably evident by the subber name. |
...and that's it for this primer! Even though this primer is extremely long, it really only begins to scratch the surface of everything that makes the EXO members charismatic and lovable. If you're a boy band fan who loves to watch segments that show off their personalities, then EXO is a great group to follow; they're super hot and the community is extremely actitve in following the boys' activities and subbing them for the English-speaking audience. As always, any comments, questions, squeeing, and invitations to be EXO-Ls together are deeply welcome.
The next primer will cover the girl group 2NE1. Look forward to it!
no subject
I'm really drawn to CHEN????? And Xiuchen is really adorable I can't even with them.
I like Suho a LOT more now that I know of his personality and him doing that girl group dance fjakdsfj;alskdj. Also D.O., I really like the quieter types, though I really really love what you wrote about Kai and his stupid pretty face.
JUST ALL OF THEM, THEY'RE ALL ADORABLE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
no subject
Chen is so adorable. XDDD He's always so genuine and his face is so cute and boyish and I feel like if he gets more opportunities in Korea, his popularity will really explode. And XIUCHEN they give me such feels, Chen is so proud of everything that Xiumin does.
Completely agreed on Suho — he didn't stand out to me when I was originally just watching music videos, but as soon as you watch him in varieties, you start to see how loving he is. Also, he's completely dorky. XD I didn't mention it here, but he has like a wall full of manga and many different Iron Man figures, as well.
D.O.-sshiiiiiiiii. I do definitely love him for being someone who's so serious and introverted. XD In episode two of Showtime, watching him go to the movies himself was weirdly delightful.
UGH KAI I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. He's probably the most conscientious member when it comes to treating ladies well (without going overboard in the name of supposed chivalry).
YES COME JOIN ME IN THE EXO-L FANDOM MELLY YES YES >:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD UGH I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU ENJOY THEM YOU HAVE NO IDEA