'2025 Melon Music Awards' EXO remained intact. They showed a stage that could remain intact because there are members who are sincere about EXO.
On the 20th at Gocheok Sky Dome, the '2025 Melon Music Awards' (wavve, Melon) ceremony was held.
Among the singers who attended that day, EXO could not help but draw attention. Their last full-group activity was the seventh studio album 'Cream Soda' three years ago, but afterward EXO-CBX left SM and spent time marred by lawsuits, and with the youngest members Kai and Sehun enlisting in the military, hopes for full-group activities grew dim.
However, EXO leader Suho repeatedly told fans he would 'return as EXO' while releasing solo albums and filming dramas. In particular, leader Suho's remarks about activities after the youngest member Sehun's discharge from service likely became a milestone for fans.
Not only Suho but other members were sincere about EXO. Since 2020 Kai has participated in SM concerts under the name EXO on his own, showing his activities as a solo singer while never losing his image as an EXO member. Suho and Kai stirred fans' emotions by performing the 'Toji' stage at a recent SM concert, and later Kai once again captured fans' hearts by revealing an EXO medley with Suho and Chanyeol at his Waterbomb event.
Also, Lay, whose contract ended a few years ago, wanted to join, and D.O., who made a big name for himself as actor Doh Kyung Soo, firmly participated as EXO. In particular, D.O. chose to attend the EXO schedule despite his schedule overlapping with Kim Woo Bin and Shin Mina's wedding and MMA commitments; he briefly attended the wedding and then delivered a live performance on the EXO stage that showed he valued being with EXO.
In addition, Kai showed once more his steadfast love for EXO-L by performing a stage together at his encore concert along with Sehun's discharge in September.
This trajectory of EXO quietly announced the release of their eighth studio album next January. Sincerity is not ostentatious, and it was a moment that proved itself through actions. At the unexpectedly revealed MMA event, EXO, despite not releasing a song this year, appeared in the latter part of the main stage and drew attention. Beginning with the 'Tree of Life' VCR that long-time fans would know makes hearts burn, EXO opened the stage with the intro of 'Wolf and Beauty' and followed with the 'Monster' stage.
EXO has many hit songs, but they once again built a tense stage with 'Eve' and during 'Love Shot' Kai and Sehun had a dance break time. When the opening of 'Growl', often called the anthem of K-pop, began, the audience seats overflowed with cheers. It was the emotion and memories that only EXO could evoke. Of course, the members' appearances, shown in close-up throughout the screen, remained that of EXO in their 30s. Their faces, which debuted in their late teens to early 20s as 'handsome', had simply become 'handsome' men in their 30s.
Especially during Sehun's part 'I EXO', images of NCT Wish, RIIZE, BONNIE & CLYDE and others were shown on the screen as they naturally followed that legendary choreography everyone knew, making one realize once again how nationally popular 'Growl' had been.
Then the 'logo' that changed with each EXO album release continued, and the song 'Back it up', a track on the new single album to be released next month, began. Main dancer Kai's dance, followed by Sehun's dance and D.O.'s rich tone and powerful vocal announced the start of the song. Kai occasionally showed a smile that suggested he did not know what to do because the stage made him happy while keeping a charismatic expression, and D.O. was caught watching the stage with sparkling eyes and smiling unconsciously.
Also captured were Suho's perfect 모습 as someone who has become versatile in acting and stage work, Sehun's improved vocals, and Chanyeol showing advanced dance skills with precise group choreography, making their stage perfect. Their earnest wish to be EXO and longing for EXO-L not only revealed their feelings for fans but, combined with the unchanged, distinctive and unadorned handsome faces they had since debut, moved countless fans.
[Photo source] '2025 Melon Music Awards'
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