K-pop’s Xiumin is back! Exo member returning to public life after serving in the South Korean military

Xiumin, the eldest member of Exo and thus the first to report for military service, will leave uniform shortly, group’s management SM Entertainment says

All South Korean males must serve in the armed forces, and three of Xiumin’s band mates – Suho, Chen, and D.O. – are still enrolled in the military

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Xiumin from Exo has been effectively discharged after 18 months’ service in the South Korean armed forces, the group’s management say. Photo: SM Entertainment

Published: 6:45pm, 23 Nov 2020Updated: 6:46pm, 23 Nov 2020

Exo member Xiumin is set to return to public life on December 6 after the K-pop star served in the South Korean military for 18 months.

SM Entertainment, the South Korean company that manages Exo, said Xiumin was on his final leave and would not be returning to the military because of Covid-19-related regulations – thus marking his unofficial discharge.

The label said Xiumin would keep his military status until December 6, however.

Following the announcement, several hashtags related to Xiumin trended worldwide on Twitter as fans of Exo, known collectively as Exo-L, celebrated his informal discharge.

Fans celebrated the military’s discharge of Xiumin from Exo. Credit: SM Entertainment

All able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve in the country’s armed services for a period of nearly two years. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s enlistments and discharges have been adjusted.

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