EXO marks 14 years with promise of long-awaited reunion on stage

EXO / SM Entertainment

In the mercurial world of K-pop, where groups often vanish as quickly as they debut, EXO has remained a singular force.

Since its 2012 arrival, the group has navigated the transition from "super rookies" to global veterans, surviving industry shifts and mandatory military service to maintain a vice grip on the charts.

This week, the group celebrates its 14th anniversary, a milestone that coincides with a resurgence in its commercial power. Its eighth studio album, Reverxe, released in January, recently secured its eighth "million-seller" title and dominated domestic music programs. Now, the group is preparing to return to the stage for EXO PLANET #6 - EXhOrizon, its first solo concert in over six years.

In a rare Q&A, the EXO members reflected on their endurance, their creative evolution and the reunion awaiting them at KSPO Dome.

Q: Looking back over 14 years, which moment remains the most vivid?

Su-ho: The day we shot the music video for “History.” I remember getting lost in thought about my trainee days, thinking, “I’m finally on the kind of set I used to only see on television.”

Chan-yeol: It still feels like yesterday that we performed “History” at our debut showcase. It is hard to believe 14 years have passed. I feel immense gratitude toward EXO-L for their unwavering love.

Kai: The number 14 still hasn't quite sunk in. Rather than a specific event, it’s the atmosphere on stage and the look in the fans' eyes that stay with me. Those moments made me who I am today.

Q: You are returning to the concert stage for the first time in more than six years. If you had to describe the show in one word, what would it be?

Su-ho: I’d say “nostalgia.” We have reinterpreted songs from the last 14 years with a 2026 sensibility. It will be a day when EXO and our fans become one again.

Chan-yeol: “Return.” We’ve been working together with great energy to prepare for this, and it feels right to be back.

Kai: “Reunion.” It isn’t just about showing a performance. It’s about reconnecting the passage of time between us and the fans.

Q: What is your message to the fans who have stood by you?

D.O.: I am so thankful. My only wish is that everyone stays healthy. Please!

Se-hun: Let’s go all the way. We are one!

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.