From the SM Town EXO-K Twitter account
In July, they graced the clogged EDSA on a “Imagine Your Korea” billboard, as ambassadors of Korea Tourism Organization.
Today, Aug. 23 and on Saturday, Aug. 24, EXO, Korea’s “national boy band,” will stage sold-out concerts before legions of Pinoy fans, members of the global EXO-L fanbase.
EXO announced another world tour just a little over a year from the previous one, “The ElyXiOn,” held in Manila in April 2018. Their first concert in Manila was held in 2015.
“EXO PLANET # 5 – EXplOration” will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena, with Pulp Live World as organizers.
The supposedly nine-member group headed for their world tour without two of their Korean members, Xiumin and D.O.
Xiumin, the eldest of the group, was enlisted to the military in May 2019 while D.O. received his enlistment notice in July 2019. Both members won’t be joining the rest of the group for the tour and will return in 2021 after their mandatory two-year enlistment.
This year’s tour is another adjustment period for the group. EXO originally had twelve members, but was reduced to nine after members Kris, Lu Han, and Tao left the group.
EXO was yet again reduced to six, with the enlistment of Xiumin and D.O. this year, while Lay is busy with solo promotions in America and China.
Mall of Asia, in a statement, said “EXO PLANET #5 – ExplOration is a continuation of EXO’s intricately formed epic narrative of wonder and love for their fans. Its complex metaphor is sure to add a pleasing amount of aesthetic beauty, not just to their hit tracks but also to their much-awaited performance.”
“With their explosive production, the remaining members of the group will definitely make sure that each fan will not feel the spaces temporarily left by Xiumin and D.O, who both have gone on a hiatus to serve their military duties,” it added.
This tour marks the group’s much-awaited return to the stage after the worldwide success of their latest album, Don’t Mess Up My Tempo, and its viral repackaged version, Love Shot.
Don’t Mess Up My Tempo is the fifth full-length album of the group, which earned them the title “Quintuple Million Seller Artist” after selling over 1.1 million copies in just 10 days.
The hit album has garnered several awards including the Bonsang Prize from the Golden Disc Awards and made EXO the first ever K-pop act to sell a cumulative of 10 million albums in Korea among artists who debuted after the year 2000.
EXO are gearing up for fiery performances, such as smash hits “Love Shot,” “Ko Ko Bop,” and “Power.” (Areeya Tatjana Ho)