Exo is one of the most popular and successful K-pop groups in the world, with millions of fans across the globe. The group consists of nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. Each member has their own unique talents and charms, but today we will focus on one of them: Chen. Look at Exo Chen: The Main Vocalist, The Soloist, The Father.
Who is Chen?
Chen is the main vocalist of Exo and its sub-units Exo-M and Exo-CBX. His real name is Kim Jong-dae, and he was born on September 21, 1992, in Daejeon, South Korea. He has an older brother who is four years older than him. Chen means “sky” in Chinese, and he chose this stage name because he wants to reach high with his voice.
Chen is a singer and songwriter who has a powerful and expressive voice that can hit high notes with ease. He is also an actor who has appeared in various dramas and musicals, such as In the Heights, Missing 9, 100 Days My Prince, and Do You Like Brahms?. He is also known for his intelligence, kindness, generosity, and humor.
How did Chen become an idol?
Chen had a dream of becoming a singer since he was in elementary school. He was discovered by SM Entertainment while he was walking on the streets of Seoul when he was 19 years old. He became a trainee in 2011 and trained for six months before debuting as a member of Exo.
Chen was the last member to join Exo-M, the Chinese sub-unit of the group. He made his first public appearance as an Exo member alongside Luhan, Tao, and Kai at the 2011 SBS Gayo Daejeon. He debuted with the mini-album Mama on April 8, 2012. He was introduced as the tenth member of the group with the superpower of thunder (lightning).
In 2014, Chen joined the ballad group SM the Ballad, initially formed by SM Entertainment in 2010. On the group’s second album Breath, he sang the Chinese version of the lead single “Breath” with Zhang Liyin. He also sang a duet with f(x)’s Krystal titled “When I Was… When U Were…”, and “A Day Without You” with Shinee’s Jonghyun. For the latest KPOP products, click here.
In 2016, Chen formed a sub-unit with fellow members Baekhyun and Xiumin called Exo-CBX. The sub-unit debuted with the mini-album Hey Mama! on October 31, 2016. The sub-unit has released two more mini-albums: Girls (2017) in Japan and Blooming Days (2018) in Korea.
What are Chen’s achievements?
Chen has achieved many things as a member of Exo and as a solo artist. As a member of Exo, he has won numerous awards and honors, such as six Daesangs (grand prizes) at the Mnet Asian Music Awards, four Daesangs at the Golden Disc Awards, three Daesangs at the Melon Music Awards, and two Daesangs at the Seoul Music Awards. Exo is also the first K-pop group to sell over 10 million albums in Korea.
As a solo artist, Chen debuted with the mini-album April, and a Flower on April 1, 2019. The album consists of six songs that showcase Chen’s musicality and emotions. The title track “Beautiful Goodbye” is a ballad that expresses Chen’s sincere message to his fans. The album debuted at number one on iTunes Top Albums charts in 36 countries, number two on South Korea’s Gaon Album Chart, and number three on Billboard’s World Albums chart. The album sold over 180,000 copies in Korea.
Continuing the success, his second mini-album Dear My Dear was released on October 1, 2019. The album consists of six songs that explore different aspects of love. The title track “Shall We?” is a retro pop song that invites listeners to go on a date with Chen. The album debuted at number one on South Korea’s Gaon Album Chart, number two on Billboard’s World Albums chart, and number three on iTunes Top Albums charts in 36 countries. The album sold over 230,000 copies in Korea.
Chen has also been recognized for his OST (original soundtrack) songs for various television dramas, most notably “Best Luck” for It’s Okay That’s Love (2014), “Every time” for Descendants of the Sun (2016), “For You” for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), “Cherry Blossom Love Song” for 100 Days My Prince (2018), and “Your Moonlight” for Do You Like Brahms? (2020). His OST songs have topped various music charts and won several awards, such as the Best OST by a Male Artist and Best OST Song at the 5th So-Loved Awards and the 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival respectively.
What are Chen’s hobbies and interests?
Chen has many hobbies and interests that he enjoys in his spare time. Some of them are:
- Singing and playing the piano: Chen likes to sing and play the piano as a way of expressing himself and relaxing. He often uploads covers of songs by other artists on his YouTube channel, such as “Nothing Better” by Brown Eyed Soul, “Drifting Away” by Lee Jin Ah, and “All of Me” by John Legend.
- Watching movies and dramas: Chen likes to watch movies and dramas, especially those that inspire him or challenge him as an actor. He also likes to read scripts and practice his acting skills.
- Playing games: Chen likes to play games with his friends or fellow celebrities. He is good at playing board games, such as Monopoly and Jenga. He also likes to play video games, such as League of Legends and PUBG.
- Reading books: Chen likes to read books of various genres, such as novels, essays, poems, etc. He says that reading helps him broaden his perspective and learn new things.
- Cooking: Chen likes to cook for himself and his members. He is good at making Korean dishes, such as kimchi stew, soybean paste stew, and spicy rice cakes. He also likes to try new recipes and cuisines.
What are Chen’s future plans?
Chen is currently serving in the military as a public service worker since October 26 2020. He is expected to be discharged on July 25th, 2022. He has expressed his gratitude and love to his fans for their support and loyalty and has promised to return with better music and performances.
Chen has also hinted at his future projects and goals, such as releasing a full-length album, collaborating with other artists, exploring new genres, and challenging himself as an actor. He has also expressed his desire to travel around the world with his members and fans and to share more of his stories and thoughts with them.
Chen is a talented and versatile artist who has a lot to offer to the world. He is a main vocalist, a soloist, a father, and a sky. He is Chen of Exo, and he is always ready to sing.
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