Exo (stylized as EXO pron.: EKS-oh; Korean: 엑소)
Exo (stylized as EXO pron.: EKS-oh; Korean: 엑소) is a South Korean-Chinese boy band produced by S.M. Entertainment. Formed in 2012 in Seoul, South Korea, Exo consists of twelve members, who are separated into two subgroups, Exo-K and Exo-M, promoting their music in both South Korea and China. Their name was taken from exoplanet, a term referring to planets outside of the Solar System. Their debut single Mama was released on April 8, 2012, followed by the release of their debut EP Mama on April 9, 2012
2012–present: Debut, Mama
Exo-M at the KCON 2012 in Irvine, CaliforniaExo-K and Exo-M’s prologue single What Is Love was released on January 30, 2012 through iTunes and various online retailers from China and South Korea. The single peaked at number eighty-eight on South Korea’s Gaon Single Chart. On March 9, the group released their second prologue single History, which was written and produced by Thomas Troelsen and Remee. The single peaked at number sixty-eight on the Gaon Single Chart and number six on China’s Sina Music Chart.
A concert showcase for the group was held in Seoul’s Olympic Stadium on March 31, which was a hundred days after Exo debuted their first trailer on December 21, 2011.[13] Approximately 3,000 fans from 8,000 applicants were selected to attend the showcase. A second showcase was held in the Great Hall of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China on April 1.
Exo-K and Exo-M released their debut single Mama on April 8[16] followed by an EP, Mama on April 9. On the 8th April, Exo-K made their debut performance on South Korea’s music program The Music Trend, while Exo-M performed at China’s 12th Yinyue Fengyun Bang Awards on the same day. A day after release, Mama reached number one on various Chinese online retailers and music charts. Exo-M’s album reached number two on China’s Sina Album Chart, number five on South Korea’s Gaon Album Chart and at number twelve on the Billboard World Albums Chart. Exo-K’s album peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart and at number eight on the Billboard World Albums Chart. Exo-M’s Mama music video got to number one on Chinese streaming websites and Exo-K’s version reached to number seven on YouTube’s Global Chart.
Suho (Korean: 수호) is the leader of Exo-K. His birth name is Kim Joon Myun. (Korean: 김준면; Hanja: 金俊绵) Born on May 22, 1991 in Seoul, South Korea, and is the first Exo member to become an S.M. Entertainment trainee at sixteen years old.[23] He joined the company after auditioning for the S.M. Casting System, a talent audition held by the company annually. In 2008, Suho made a brief appearance in TVXQ’s music video, “HaHaHa Song” along with Exo-K’s Kai and Chanyeol. Suho was formally introduced as a member on February 15, 2012. He currently attends Korea National University of Arts to complete his degree in acting.
Baekhyun (Korean: 백현) His full name is Byun Baek Hyun. (Korean: 변백현; Hanja: 卞伯贤) Born on May 6, 1992 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. He attended Jungwon High School and joined the school’s musical band. Baekhyun won an award at a local rock festival. While studying for his entrance exams, he was scouted by an S.M. Entertainment casting agent and was put into the company through the S.M. Casting System in 2011.[23] He appeared in TaeTiSeo’s debut single, “Twinkle” alongside members Chanyeol, Kai and Sehun. Baekhyun was formally introduced as a member on January 30, 2012.
Chanyeol (Korean: 찬열) His full name is Park Chan Yeol. (Korean: 박찬열; Hanja: 朴灿烈) Born on November 27, 1992 in Seoul, South Korea He attended Hyundai Chungun High School in Dong-gu, Ulsan. When he was sixteen years old, he was enrolled in a private acting institution. Skilled in playing the drums, Chanyeol formed a temporary band with his high school classmates, and won second place in a televised modeling contest. He was cast into S.M. Entertainment through the S.M. Casting System in 2008, and made a brief appearance in TVXQ’s music video, “HaHaHa Song” with Suho and Kai that same year. In 2010, Chanyeol starred in the music video of Girls’ Generation Japanese single, “Genie” as well as TaeTiSeo’s debut single, “Twinkle” alongside members Baekhyun, Kai and Sehun. Chanyeol was the last member to be formally introduced, on February 23, 2012.
D.O. (Korean: 디오) His birth name is Do Kyung Soo. (Korean: 도경수; Hanja: 都暻秀) Born on January 12, 1993 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. After winning in a singing competition, he was cast into S.M. Entertainment through the S.M. Casting System in 2010. D.O. was formally introduced as a member on January 30, 2012.
Kai (Korean: 카이) His birth name is Kim Jong In. (Korean: 김종인; Hanja:金钟仁) Born on January 14, 1994 in Seoul, South Korea. He was cast into S.M. Entertainment after winning in the company’s Youth Best Contest in 2007. Prior to joining S.M. Entertainment, Kai trained in ballet and jazz dance.[27] In 2008, he made a brief appearance in TVXQ’s music video, “HaHaHa Song” along with Exo-K’s Suho and Chanyeol. and also in TaeTiSeo’s debut single, “Twinkle” alongside members Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Sehun. Kai was the first of the twelve members to be formally introduced through teaser trailers; his teaser was released on December 23, 2011.[28] Kai appeared in twelve more trailers in the next three months, and performed with Exo-M’s Lu Han, Tao, and Chen on SBS’s Gayo Daejun event on December 29, 2011. Kai graduated from Seoul Arts High School in early 2012.
Sehun (Korean: 세훈) His birth name is Oh Sehun. (Korean: 오세훈; Hanja: 吴世勋) Born on April 12, 1994 in Seoul, South Korea. Sehun was scouted by a casting agent on the streets when he was twelve, and was successfully placed into S.M. Entertainment in 2008, after going through four auditions in two years.He also made an appearance in TaeTiSeo’s debut single, “Twinkle” alongside members Baekhyun, Kai and Chanyeol. Sehun was formally introduced as a member on January 10, 2012. He graduated from Seoul Arts High School.