EXO’s future as full group uncertain amid ongoing legal dispute
EXO members Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Suho, top, take part in a recent 13th anniversary livestream, while Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin at bottom are absent. Courtesy of SM Entertainment and INB100
Long-delayed album draws attention as fans await possible full-group return this year
Will K-pop boy group EXO ever make a total comeback? As the group marks its 13th anniversary this year, and most members having completed their mandatory military service, fans’ hopes for a full reunion are running high. But lingering legal and internal conflicts continue to cast uncertainty over the group’s future.
EXO debuted in April 2012 and quickly rose to the top ranks of third-generation K-pop acts. After lineup changes over the years, the group settled into an eight-member formation consisting of Suho, Xiumin, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun. For much of their career, all members were under SM Entertainment.
However, in 2023, D.O. moved to Company Soosoo following the expiration of his contract, marking the beginning of EXO’s “together but separate” phase, with D.O. still participating in group activities under SM.
The group’s stability was disrupted later that year when Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin — collectively known as CBX — had a contract dispute with SM. Citing a lack of transparency in payments and the burden of excessively long contracts, CBX attempted to terminate their exclusive contracts.
SM countered by accusing them of tampering, claiming they had engaged with another agency before their contracts had ended. The dispute was eventually settled, with CBX agreeing to continue EXO activities under SM while maintaining individual management elsewhere.
'Half-hearted full-group'
Tensions flared again when CBX’s agency, INB100 — founded by Baekhyun and later absorbed into One Hundred — was accused of renewed interference. One Hundred denied the allegations, but the feud reignited after its chairman publicly criticized SM’s handling of CBX’s individual activity revenue shares.
This deepening conflict ultimately escalated into a legal battle: CBX filed fraud charges against SM executives and SM responded with a lawsuit demanding the fulfillment of their contracts. The case remains unresolved.
Caught in the middle was EXO’s group comeback plan. A full-group album originally scheduled for late 2023 was shelved due to the dispute. CBX emphasized their willingness to participate in group promotions, but the release was ultimately canceled, disappointing fans who had waited years for the reunion.
Since then, CBX and the other EXO members have continued their careers separately — CBX under INB100 and the rest with SM. In March, One Hundred claimed that KBS informally blocked Xiumin’s appearance on music shows featuring SM artists.
While KBS denied the allegation, the incident highlighted the lingering tension between SM and CBX.
Despite the friction, EXO celebrated its 13th anniversary on April 8 with a livestream featuring Suho, Kai, D.O. and Chanyeol — minus Sehun, who is currently serving in the military, and CBX, whose absence was notable.
A week before the broadcast, Baekhyun commented on a fan platform, “I wish I had known about the livestream earlier. I wanted to join,” prompting mixed reactions among fans. Some criticized SM for failing to inform CBX, while others expressed concern that Baekhyun’s remark might fuel further misunderstanding.
The broadcast went on without CBX, and fans were left with what some described as a “half-hearted full-group” anniversary. During the livestream, Suho said the group plans to hold a fan meeting once Sehun completes his military service.
Earlier this year, at “SMTOWN LIVE 2025,” Suho hinted at future group activities. “Kai is coming back soon, and Sehun won’t be far behind. We’re already talking about things we want to do.”
Whether these future plans will involve all eight members remains uncertain. With ongoing lawsuits and lingering divisions, much needs to be resolved for a true comeback to happen.
As the conflicts drag on, so does the fatigue of fans. Many still hope that 2025 will be the year EXO shines again — as one.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.