K-Pop

EXO announces comeback, concerns over the members’ past scandals arise 

EXO, including Suho, Baekhyun, D.O., Chanyeol, Sehun, Xiumin, Chen, and Kai will be making a group comeback. 

Recently, on January 1st, EXO leader Suho posted a photo of  7 members with the caption, “Happy New Year 2023. EXO will make a comeback in 2023.” 

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This is EXO’s first album in about two years since their last comeback, the mini album “DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING” released in June 2021. At that time, only six members participated in the activities, including Xiumin, Baekhyun, Kai, D.O., Chanyeol, and Sehun while Suho and Chen were unable to join because of their military service. They were discharged in February and April last year, respectively, and has been focusing on solo activities.

The comeback is expected after spring because Baekhyun is serving as a social service worker after his enlistment date in May 202 and is set to be discharged in February this year. Prior to Baekhyun, Xiumin, D.O., Suho, Chen, and Chanyeol completed their defense duties one after another, while Kai and Sehun, who were born in 1994, have yet to enlist.

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Prior to the release of the new album, EXO geared up for their comeback at “SMTOWN LIVE 2023: SMCU PALACE@KWANGYA” on the afternoon of January 1st (Korean Time.) While Baekhyun could not join the lineup, the remaining members performed the winter special album’s “First Snow” and the title song of the 5th repackage album, “Love Shot,” drawing enthusiastic response from the audience.

EXO debuted in 2012 and grew in popularity with “Growl,” “Overdose,” “Call Me Baby,” “Monster,” “Ko Ko Bop” and “Love Shot.”

Upon their debut, EXO topped the domestic and foreign music charts and won the Rookie of the Year award and the grand prize for many years. Their latest work “DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING” topped the “iTunes Top Album” charts in 87 regions and as well as other domestic music charts and music broadcasts. In particular, the album surpassed 1 million sales in a week and earned the “Million Seller” title.

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In addition, EXO also worked in a unit system, promoted solo activities and acting. Baekhyun, Chen, Suho, Lay, Kai, D.O., and Xiumin have released solo albums one by one, proving their different charms.

Nonetheless, controversies might be an obstacle to the reunion. Chen was embroiled in a controversy when announcing his romantic relationship, his wife’s premarital pregnancy, and marriage. After getting married to his non-celebrity wife and having two children, Chen did not participate in group activities during the alternative service period from October 2020 to April 2022.

With mixed response from fans, Chen wrote a letter, stating, “After worrying a lot about how I should express my feelings, it’s taken me until now to write to EXO-L. I’m worried that I might hurt you through poor wording, but I want to first off apologize to everyone who has waited for all that time. I also want to express my apologies to EXO-L who must have been very surprised and taken aback by my sudden news.”

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He continued, “I don’t know if my feelings will be conveyed well, but I’m sincerely grateful for the love that you’ve given me and I’m more aware than anyone else that I am who I am now because of that love. I want to apologize again for expressing my apologies to you so late. Also, I will show you how I’m continuing to try hard. Thank you.”

The controversy was prior to his joining the military, stemming from a post claming, “I broke up with Chanyeol after dating him for three years,” and “Chanyeol cheated on other women while dating him.”

Source: Daum

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