K-pop fans were stunned to learn that EXO’s Chen recently held a fan signing event attended by only 20 fans—a surprising sight for a once A-list idol.
The event was held to celebrate the release of Chen’s new solo album Arcadia. The EXO member posted cheerful photos from the event on his social media, expressing gratitude and happiness at being able to meet fans face-to-face after a long time.
However, on October 20, Koreaboo reported that Chen had become a hot topic in Korean online communities after a group photo from the event went viral. The image showed the singer posing with just 20 fans who attended. Rather than his appearance, netizens were more shocked by the small turnout, given his status as a long-established idol.
The low attendance wasn’t the only issue drawing attention. First-week sales for Arcadia reached just 13,576 copies starkly lower than his previous album, which sold over 79,000 units in its debut week. The figures added to public perception of Chen’s waning popularity.
Across Korean social media, netizens ridiculed the singer’s apparent downfall. Some sarcastically questioned the relevance of a married father of two still promoting as a K-pop idol. Harsh comments included:
“A dad sitting there signing autographs for fans it’s surreal,”
“What do fans even say to him at this point? ‘Is your baby doing well?’”
“EXO was finally regaining momentum with ‘Tempo’ when Chen dropped the baby news bomb. Then just as people started moving on, he announced his second child. Worst of all, he sang a fan song at his wedding.”
Despite the negativity, some fans defended Chen, noting that the event was a limited-attendance signing with only 30 available spots. Koreaboo confirmed this, reporting that the event was restricted to 30 lucky ticket holders. Still, many questioned why such a small-scale event was chosen, and what it implies about Chen’s current standing in the K-pop scene.
Chen’s image in Korea took a major hit in early 2020 when he abruptly announced his marriage and impending fatherhood. As a member of one of the top third-generation K-pop groups, the news came as a shock to many fans. Accusations of irresponsibility followed, and protest movements even demanded his removal from EXO.
In the years since, Chen has continued his music career but now operates under a different label, INB100, alongside fellow EXO members Baekhyun and Xiumin after leaving SM Entertainment.
According to the latest updates, the first two mediation sessions between EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment, organized by the Seoul Eastern District Court, have both failed as the two parties could not reach an agreement. The second session, held on October 2, 2025, ended in another deadlock, prompting the case to move into a formal trial.
The dispute primarily revolves around revenue distribution and contractual terms. CBX has accused SM of a lack of transparency in individual earnings distribution and of violating a 2023 renewal agreement. Meanwhile, SM counters that the three artists failed to fulfill their obligations — especially the clause requiring 10% of individual earnings to be returned to the company.
The total disputed amount is estimated at around 600 million KRW (approximately $440,000 USD). If the lawsuit drags on, it could become a major obstacle for all three members — especially Chen. Once at the height of fame, Chen has been trying to rebuild his solo career following a wave of public backlash in Korea over his marriage and fatherhood announcement. Now, with this legal battle escalating, he faces an even greater challenge: possibly losing all chances of reuniting with EXO on major stages. Moreover, his public image and individual activities are taking a significant hit as the controversy continues to unfold.
While international fans continue to show support, Chen’s public image in Korea remains deeply divides something starkly reflected in the turnout at his recent fan event.
Sources: K14
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