The Turning Point: EXO Loses Three Key Members
After several months of disagreements with their agency, the departure of Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin is sending shockwaves through the EXO-L community. Many fans, caught off guard by the announcement, are now anxiously speculating about the band’s future after more than ten years together.
The confirmation came from SM Entertainment, EXO’s long-time agency.
“Since CBX continues to contest not only the validity of their exclusive contract, but also the resulting agreement, the company believes it is no longer possible for them to continue their activities as members of EXO.”
With that declaration, the presence of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin in EXO officially comes to an end.
Inside the Legal Battle: Claims, Counterclaims & Court Decisions
According to The Law Times, South Korean legal authorities concluded there is no evidence suggesting any illegality or fraudulent intention in SM Entertainment’s actions. The publication also reports that the accusations made by the three idols lack tangible foundation: there is simply no concrete evidence supporting their claims.
SM Entertainment added,
“Given that Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin continue to deny the validity of their exclusive contract as well as the effectiveness of the agreements derived from it, the company believes it is no longer possible to continue activities together as EXO.”
This is only the latest act in a saga that’s been simmering since June 2023, when Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin challenged the length of their contracts. Despite lengthy discussions, a compromise was supposedly reached: EXO would stay under SM, while subunit CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) would handle their solo careers through their own company, INB100.
Trouble stirred again when CBX withheld the agreed 10% share of their revenues from SM. From that point on, every one of CBX’s subsequent complaints failed. South Korea’s police, prosecution service, Ministry of Culture, and the Fair Trade Commission each confirmed that SM Entertainment had not committed any violations.
The Law Times also reports that the three EXO-CBX idols are likely to lose all six of their lawsuits against SM Entertainment. Despite multiple appeals and lengthy investigations, the courts have consistently sided with SM, citing insufficient evidence from CBX. Judges even criticized CBX for using the legal process to “exert psychological pressure” on SM, rather than bringing forward legitimate claims.
- All appeals, including those brought before the Supreme Court of Korea, have been rejected.
- These setbacks have deeply disappointed fans.
- While some still hope for a positive outcome, others have voiced anger at CBX, accusing them of betraying both EXO and their supporters.
- Some fans have even called on SM to permanently remove CBX from the group.
EXO’s Evolution: The Many Changes in the Lineup
With this latest development, EXO goes from eight to just five members. Since the group’s creation in 2012, its lineup has seen quite a few shake-ups. At the very beginning, EXO had twelve members:
Xiumin, Luhan, Kris, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O, Tao, Kai, and Sehun.
- In 2014, Kris and Luhan left, shrinking the group to ten.
- One year later, Tao departed as well.
- By 2017, Lay began focusing on his career in China, finally making his exit official in 2022.
After these changes, EXO had eight members. Now, only Suho, Chanyeol, D.O, Kai, and Sehun remain—and there’s even a glimmer of hope among fans for Lay’s possible return at some point in the future. For those who have followed the group since the beginning, this turning point is stirring up a tidal wave of nostalgia.
The Road Ahead: What’s Next for EXO?
Despite hopes for reconciliation and renewed stability, the latest legal decisions bring a hard reality for the EXO-L community. The group’s dynamic has been reshaped before, but never quite like this. The departure of Baekhyun, Chen and Xiumin—after a public and bitter legal struggle—leaves fans both reflective and anxious about EXO’s future. Whether this chapter marks a new beginning or the prelude to more changes, one thing is clear: in the ever-evolving world of K-pop, nothing stays the same for long.
