Suho (Korean: 수호; Hanja: 守護) is the leader of Exo-K. His real name is Kim Joon Myun (Korean: 김준면; Hanja: 金俊勉) and was born on May 22, 1991 (age 22) in Seoul, South Korea. Suho was an active student and earned good grades during grade school. He was the class president at his primary school and the vice chairman at his high school. At sixteen, he became the first member of EXO to become a trainee at SM, and was discovered through the company’s street casting system in 2006.

Byun Baek Hyun (Korean: 변백현; Hanja: 邊伯賢), more often credited as simply Baekhyun, is the lead vocalist of Exo-K. Born on May 6, 1992 (age 21) in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, he is the former pupil of Jungwon High School. Baekhyun was a member of the school’s band and attended several musical festivals, later winning an award at a local rock festival prior to joining S.M. Entertainment in 2011 through the S.M. Casting System.

Park Chan Yeol (Korean: 박찬열; Hanja: 朴燦烈), more often credited as simply Chanyeol, is the main rapper of the group. Chanyeol was born on November 27, 1992 (age 21) in Seoul, South Korea. He attended Hyundai Chungun High School in Dong-gu, Ulsan and was admitted to a private acting institution when he was sixteen years old. Chanyeol has been a fan of musical instruments since his primary school years and has cited the film School of Rock to be his main influence in inspiring him to learn the drums

D.O. (Korean: 디오) is the lead vocalist of Exo-K. Do Kyung Soo (Korean: 도경수; Hanja: 都暻秀) was born on January 12, 1993 (age 20) in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. D.O. has been singing since primary school and was an avid participant in local singing competitions throughout his high school career. In 2010, he was recommended to audition for S.M. Entertainment after winning at a local singing festival.

Kai (Korean: 카이) Kim Jong In (Korean: 김종인; Hanja: 金鍾仁) was born on January 14, 1994 (age 19) in Seoul, South Korea. The second Exo member to sign with S.M. Entertainment, Kai joined the company after winning in the 10th S.M. Youth Best Contest in 2007, at thirteen years old. He said that it was Shinhwa who inspired him to be a singer. Known as the group’s “lead” dancer, Kai has been dancing since he was eight years old and was trained in jazz dance and ballet.

Oh Se Hun (Korean: 오세훈; Hanja: 吳世勳), more often credited as simply Sehun was born on April 12, 1994 (age 19) in Seoul, South Korea. Sehun was scouted by a casting agent on the streets when he was twelve, and was finally cast into S.M. Entertainment in 2008, after going through four auditions in two years. On January 10, 2012, he was introduced as the fifth member of Exo. Sehun made a brief appearance in Girls’ Generation-TTS’s music video for “Twinkle” alongside fellow members Baekhyun, Chanyeol

Kris Wu Yifan[20] (Chinese: 吴亦凡; Mandarin Pinyin: Wú Yìfán; Jyutping: Ng4 Jik6 Faan4), mononymously credited as Kris (Korean: 크리스), is the leader of Exo-M and performs as the group’s rapper. Born as Kevin Li Jiaheng[21] (Chinese: 李嘉恒; Mandarin Pinyin: Lǐ Jiāhéng; Jyutping: Lei5 Gaa1 Hang4) on November 6, 1990 (age 23) in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, Wu also holds Canadian citizenship. Wu attended middle school in Guangzhou, high school in Vancouver, Canada.

Xiumin (Chinese: 秀敏; pinyin: Xiùmǐn; Korean: 시우민), born as Kim Min-seok (Korean: 김민석; Hanja: 金珉锡) on March 26, 1990 (age 23), is from Guri, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. In 2008, at age 18, he was cast into S.M. Entertainment after winning second place in the S.M. Everysing Contest. Xiumin was formally introduced as the seventh member of EXO on January 26, 2012. He also practices taekwondo and kendo. Xiumin was featured on the music video of “Gone” by JIN, alongside actress Kim Yoo-jung.

Lu Han (Chinese: 鹿晗; pinyin: Lù Hán; Korean: 루한), born on April 20, 1990 (age 23), is from Haidian District, Beijing, China. He graduated from the Beijing Shida Middle School and attended the boarding school, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shi Yan School, before leaving for South Korea to attend Yonsei University as an exchange student. Lu Han had auditioned for JYP Entertainment’s Chinese global auditions in 2008, but failed to get cast.

Lay (Korean: 레이), born as Zhang Yixing (Chinese: 张艺兴; pinyin: Zhāng Yìxīng) on October 7, 1991 (age 22), is from Changsha, Hunan, China. Lay was a local child star in Hunan, having won third place in a competition hosted by the popular TV program, Star Academy (明星学院) in 2005. He also appeared in an episode of Yue Ce Yue Kai Xin (越策越开心) and Liu Na’s variety show, Na Ke Bu Yi Yang (娜可不一样) that same year.

Chen (Korean: 첸) is the lead vocalist of Exo-M. Born as Kim Jong-dae (Korean: 김종대; Hanja: 金钟大) on September 21, 1992 (age 21) in Siheung, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, Chen has one older brother, Kim Jong-deok. Chen was the last Exo member scouted by S.M. Entertainment; he auditioned for S.M. Entertainment through the company’s S.M. Casting System in early 2011, at age 18. Chen was the fourth member to be formally introduced to the public, on December 29, 2011.

Tao (Korean: 타오), born as Huang Zitao (Chinese: 黄子韬; pinyin: Huáng Zitāo) on May 2, 1993 (age 20), is from Qingdao, Shandong, China. He attended Humen Centre Primary School, one of the most prestigious primary schools in Qingdao, and Qingdao Middle School. Tao is a martial artist, and has been practicing Wushu since he was five years old. He competed in several martial arts championships in Qingdao, and won first place in a free style rapping competition in Hong Kong.