Group Profile
- Group Name: EXO (엑소)
- Debut: April 8, 2012
- Current state: Active
- Years Active: 2012–present (14 years)
- Entertainment Company: SM Entertainment
- Fandom: EXO-L
- Group Color: Silver (unofficial)
- Members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun
- Oldest Member: Xiumin
- Youngest Member: Sehun
- Most Popular Member: Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Sehun
- Notable Albums: MAMA, XOXO, Overdose, Exodus, Ex'Act, The War, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, Obsession, Exist
- Country: South Korea
- Generation: A 3rd Generation K-pop group (Gen 3)
- Leader: Suho
EXO (엑소) is a K-pop boy group formed and managed by SM Entertainment, based in Seoul, South Korea. The group officially debuted on April 8, 2012, with the mini-album MAMA.
EXO originally operated with 12 members: eight South Korean nationals (Suho, Xiumin, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun) and four Chinese nationals (Kris, Luhan, Lay, Tao). Three members—Kris (2014), Luhan (2014), and Tao (2015)—subsequently terminated their contracts with SM Entertainment through legal litigation. Since then, the group has continued with nine members.
As of early 2026, the group’s activities remain incomplete. Three members—Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin, who form the sub-unit EXO-CBX—are currently in a legal dispute with SM Entertainment regarding their exclusive contracts. As of late 2025, the lawsuit has yet to reach a final verdict. Recent group activities have primarily involved Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay; Lay returned to participate in collective activities after a long period of focusing on his solo career in China.
Meaning of Name
The name “EXO” is derived from the astronomical term exoplanet, referring to planets outside the Solar System. The name reflects the group’s original concept of members coming from “other worlds” to gather on Earth.
This name is also linked to the group’s initial operating structure: EXO was divided into EXO-K (promoting in Korean) and EXO-M (promoting in Mandarin for the Chinese market). The two units released the same music simultaneously in two languages across parallel markets. This dual-unit model was unified into a single group starting in 2015.
Fandom & Lightstick
The official fandom name for EXO is EXO-L (엑소엘). This name was formed by placing the letter “L” between “EXO-K” and “EXO-M,” symbolizing fans at the center connecting the group’s two units. The “L” also stands for Love. In the Korean alphabet, the consonant “ㄹ” (L/R) is situated between “ㄱ” (K) and “ㅁ” (M), further reinforcing this structural significance.
EXO’s official lightstick is commonly referred to by fans as the Eribong. Ver. 1 and Ver. 2 featured a spherical design with a glowing EXO logo in basic white light. Ver. 3, released in 2019, features a metallic finish and a twist-to-open battery compartment instead of the screw-in mechanism of older versions. The lightstick uses three AAA batteries and supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing for synchronized lighting and color changes according to stage effects during concerts.
Popularity
EXO maintains a massive fan base across East and Southeast Asia. In China, member Lay maintains a personal Weibo account with over 50 million followers, the highest in the group on that platform. Beyond Asia, Brazil and several Latin American countries maintain a steady following on social media platforms.
The group’s official Instagram account has reached over 10 million followers, while their X (Twitter) account has surpassed 13 million. Prior to their 2012 debut, SM Entertainment released a series of individual teaser videos for each member over several consecutive weeks, totaling 23 teasers. EXO was also one of the first groups to debut with a model of simultaneous promotion across two language units from day one.
Awards & Achievements
- 2013: The album XOXO sold over 1 million copies in South Korea, making them the first Korean artist to reach this milestone in 12 years. They received the Disc Daesang at the 28th Golden Disc Awards and Album of the Year at the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). The single “Growl” won Song of the Year at the 2013 Melon Music Awards.
- 2014: The EP Overdose sold over 1 million copies. They received the Disc Daesang at the 29th Golden Disc Awards and Album of the Year at the 16th MAMA.
- 2015: The album EXODUS sold over 1 million copies. They received the Disc Daesang at the 30th Golden Disc Awards, Album of the Year at the 17th MAMA, and the Daesang at the 25th Seoul Music Awards.
- 2016: The album EX’ACT sold over 1 million copies. They received the Disc Daesang at the 31st Golden Disc Awards and Album of the Year at the 18th MAMA, marking their fourth consecutive win.
- 2017: The album The War became the group’s best-selling album with over 1.6 million copies in South Korea. They received Album of the Year at the 19th MAMA for the fifth consecutive year. This achievement was recognized in the Guinness World Records 2018 for the “Most Daesang awards won at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.”
By 2019, EXO had won a total of 23 Daesangs from major South Korean music awards. By the mid-2020s, the group’s total Daesang count surpassed 25 awards.
Musical Style
EXO utilizes R&B, dance-pop, pop, and hip-hop as the primary genres in their discography, with some works incorporating elements of funk and 1990s R&B. The sub-unit EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) pursues retro pop and smooth R&B, while EXO-SC (Sehun & Chanyeol) focuses on hip-hop and urban pop.
During the 2012–2013 period, EXO-K and EXO-M appeared with a superpower and astronomical concept, reflected in their promotional imagery and music video content. Starting with XOXO (2013), their image shifted toward an urban and R&B-pop style. The War (2017) and Don’t Mess Up My Tempo (2018) used bright, energetic color palettes, while EXIST (2023) showcased a more mature and minimalist image compared to previous releases.