EXO is shown here with its original nine-member lineup: L-R Baekhyun, Chen, Lay, Sehun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Suho and Xiumin.
Rolling Stone India via Ni9ht Night/X
In case you missed it, KPop veterans EXO just announced their eighth album, coming early 2026.
Early reactions to the news have been mixed across social media.
On the one hand, fans are ecstatic across the board for the returning members Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Sehun, Kai, and Lay — especially since this is Lay’s first full-length collaboration with the group since 2021.
On the other hand, there has also been outcry that three members — one-third of their existing lineup — have noticeably gone unmentioned: Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin.
EXO’s Shrinking Roster
EXO originally debuted in 2012 as a 12-member group split into two subunits — EXO-K and EXO-M — promoting simultaneously in South Korea and China. The full original lineup comprised Xiumin, Luhan, Kris, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Tao, Kai, and Sehun.
However, the group has faced multiple departures over the years, as is common with longstanding groups in the KPop industry. In 2014 and 2015, three of EXO’s Chinese members — Kris, Luhan, and Tao — left the group after filing lawsuits against their label SM Entertainment.
Of these, Luhan and Tao remained active in their solo careers, and Kris is currently in prison on charges including tax evasion and rape.
While the remaining nine members continued as EXO, the group’s unity would face yet another challenge nearly a decade later.
EXO-CBX Controversy
As mentioned above, members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin — collectively known as subunit EXO-CBX — have been noticeably absent from announcements about the December fanmeeting and the 2026 album.
The conflict dates back to June 2023, when the trio raised concerns over contract terms and payment transparency, according to multiple Korean entertainment outlets. That same month, EXO-CBX sent a formal notice to SM Entertainment expressing their intention to terminate their exclusive contracts, citing alleged discrepancies in settlement data.
The two sides initially agreed to maintain the exclusive contract for group activities with EXO, while EXO-CBX decided to pursue individual activities under their new agency, INB100. However, tensions flared again in 2024.
Per Bandwagon Asia, CBX maintained that the company failed to provide proper accounting records and did not honor its promise of a 5.5 percent distribution fee on album and music sales. SM Entertainment maintained, as quoted by the same outlet, that “exclusive contracts must be upheld,” and stated that CBX had agreed to remit 10 percent of their individual activity revenue.
As of September 2025, Soompi reported that court-led mediation efforts had not resulted in a resolution, with approximately 600 million won (about $430,000 USD) in dispute.
During EXO’s 13th anniversary celebration in 2025, the broadcast went on without CBX, leaving fans with what some described as a “half-hearted full-group” anniversary.
What’s Next for EXO?
EXO plans to perform their winter classic “The First Snow” and unveil new tracks from their upcoming album during their December fan meeting ‘EXOverse’.
The event will proceed with the six participating members, while the legal dispute between CBX and SM Entertainment remains ongoing with no resolution timeline announced.
Whether the group will reunite as nine members for future activities depends on the outcome of the lawsuit and any potential reconciliation between the parties involved. For now, it appears EXO will continue promotional activities with their current six-member lineup through 2026.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahabraham/2025/10/27/why-are-some-exo-members-missing-from-their-upcoming-album/
