exo Completed!

Description

In January 2011, producer Lee Soo-man of S.M. Entertainment announced his plans to debut a new boy band in March or April 2011.^[4]Temporarily named M1, the group appeared to have consisted of only seven members when a photo of them in a dance studio leaked online.^[5] In May 2011, Lee spoke about the group in a Hallyu business seminar held in Stanford University. In the presentation, he explained his strategy of separating the group into two subgroups, M1 and M2, and have them promote the same music in both Korea and China, performing the songs in both Korean and Mandarin.^[6] Lee planned to launch the group in May 2011, but their debut was delayed and news concerning the group did not surface until October 2011, when Lee briefly discussed about the group's concept plans in an interview with The Chosun Ilbo.^[7]

In December 2011, the group finalized their name to Exo, with the names Exo-K for the Korea subgroup and Exo-M for the China subgroup. The twelve members were introduced individually through twenty-three different teaser trailers released from December 2011 to February 2012.^[1][8] Kai, Lu Han, Tao, and Chen, the first four members introduced, debuted their first public performance at the SBS'sGayo Daejun event on December 29, 2011.^[9]

Foreword

In January 2011, producer Lee Soo-man of S.M. Entertainment announced his plans to debut a new boy band in March or April 2011.^[4]Temporarily named M1, the group appeared to have consisted of only seven members when a photo of them in a dance studio leaked online.^[5] In May 2011, Lee spoke about the group in a Hallyu business seminar held in Stanford University. In the presentation, he explained his strategy of separating the group into two subgroups, M1 and M2, and have them promote the same music in both Korea and China, performing the songs in both Korean and Mandarin.^[6] Lee planned to launch the group in May 2011, but their debut was delayed and news concerning the group did not surface until October 2011, when Lee briefly discussed about the group's concept plans in an interview with The Chosun Ilbo.^[7]

In December 2011, the group finalized their name to Exo, with the names Exo-K for the Korea subgroup and Exo-M for the China subgroup. The twelve members were introduced individually through twenty-three different teaser trailers released from December 2011 to February 2012.^[1][8] Kai, Lu Han, Tao, and Chen, the first four members introduced, debuted their first public performance at the SBS'sGayo Daejun event on December 29, 2011.^[9]