EXO-Ls have yet to recover from the EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon concert tour—which recently wrapped up a sold-out two-day stop in the Philippines—but SM Entertainment is already planning to keep the momentum going.
Photo: EXO/Facebook
In a corporate business presentation and lineup preview detailing the agency’s planned promotional schedule for the latter half of the year, SM Entertainment revealed the potential formation of a brand-new subunit for the “Kings of K-pop” by the end of 2026.
Having a subunit is not a new concept to the group. Even before their official debut, SM Entertainment divided the original 12-member lineup into two regional subgroups—EXO-K and EXO-M—to target the Korean and Chinese markets simultaneously. However, following the departure of Chinese members Kris, Luhan, and Tao, EXO-M was restructured, leading the group to promote primarily as a single unified unit.
Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin as CBX
EXO launched its first official sub-unit, EXO-CBX, in October 2016, composed of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin. Their debut mini-album title track, Hey Mama!, instantly became a massive hit, topping domestic and international music charts including Melon, Genie, and the Billboard World Albums Chart.
Photo: SM Entertainment
Despite the trio’s huge success, the unit faced significant legal hurdles in 2023 when Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin requested the termination of their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment, citing non-transparent financial settlements and overly long contract terms.
A month later, both parties reached a settlement: the members agreed to maintain their group contracts with SM Entertainment for full EXO activities, while their individual schedules and subunit activities under EXO-CBX would be managed by INB100, an independent agency founded by Baekhyun.
However, peace in the EXO universe was short-lived. Legal tensions resurfaced when INB100 publicly questioned SM Entertainment over full-revenue royalty demands and distribution fee commitments, leading SM Entertainment to file a contract enforcement lawsuit against the trio to resolve the royalty dispute.
Sehun and Chanyeol’s Dynamic Duo
In 2019, SM Entertainment launched a two-member subunit called EXO-SC, featuring Sehun and Chanyeol. The hip-hop duo debuted with their mini-album What a Life, which quickly earned them critical acclaim and a music show win on KBS’s Music Bank.
Photo: Park Chanyeol/Instagram
In interviews, Chanyeol shared that the idea for a duo came naturally—their frequent hangouts outside of official schedules made them realize how well their visuals, vocal tones, and physical presences complemented each other.
Even prior to their official subunit debut, Sehun and Chanyeol had collaborated in September 2018 for the digital single “We Young” under the SM STATION X 0 project, receiving widespread praise from fans.
A Suho, Kai, and D.O. Subunit?
With EXO-CBX and EXO-SC well established, members Suho, Kai, and D.O. remain the only members who have yet to debut in a formal subunit. Nevertheless, all three have built highly successful solo careers.
In March 2020, Suho became the first of the three to make his official solo debut with the mini-album Self-Portrait, featuring a softer, sentiment-driven modern rock sound. Its lead single, “Let’s Love”—a nod to EXO’s famous group slogan Sarang Haja—served as a sweet tribute to his members and EXO-Ls.
Photo: EXO/Facebook
Kai followed shortly after with his self-titled mini-album KAI (开) in November 2020. The Chinese character 开, meaning “to open,” symbolized his goal of revealing a fresh artistic dimension to the public.
Lastly, D.O. launched his solo career with the mini-album Empathy in 2021. Stepping away from EXO’s signature explosive pop and R&B style, he opted for warm, acoustic folk-pop tracks like the lead single “Rose.”
With such a rich history of successful side projects, EXO-Ls are already guessing who will make up the next official subunit—and what new sound they will bring to the table.
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