EXO’s Chen starting military duty: Inside his emotional letter

EXO fans have watched several members step away for mandatory service, yet Chen’s 2020 farewell stood out for its quiet grace. The singer posted a handwritten letter on Lysn and released the single “Hello” before reporting on October 26, 2020. His enlistment marked another chapter in the group’s long relationship with South Korea’s conscription rules, one that has now concluded for every member.

EXO & Chen

EXO formed in 2011 as a twelve-member project blending Korean and Chinese talent. The current roster lists nine members, though Lay has maintained a separate career in China since 2017. Chen, born Kim Jong-dae, serves as one of the group’s lead vocalists and belongs to the subunit EXO-CBX. He also contributed to SM Entertainment’s ballad project SM the Ballad and launched a solo discography in 2019. In 2020 he married his non-celebrity partner and welcomed their first child, a daughter, in April. A son followed in November 2021. Chen completed his service and was discharged on April 25, 2022. He now operates under the INB100 label alongside Xiumin and Baekhyun while remaining an EXO member.

South Korea’s mandatory military duty

The 1957 conscription law still requires able-bodied South Korean men to serve roughly eighteen to twenty-one months, depending on the branch. In practice the upper age limit stretches to thirty-five for certain cases. Chen entered service at twenty-eight, the latest year then allowed. Xiumin began in May 2019, Suho in May 2020, and D.O. volunteered in July 2019. The remaining members—Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Kai, and Sehun—have since completed their obligations, with Sehun discharged in September 2025. Several members performed in military musicals during their terms, including the production Return: The Promise of the Day.

Chen’s letter & ‘Hello’

Chen posted the letter on October 16, 2020, addressing EXO-L directly. He wrote that he hoped to return “with growth and improvement” and wished fans continued health and beauty. The accompanying single “Hello” arrived the same day with a music video. Observers noted the lyrics read like a personal message, echoing the tone of the handwritten note. The release served as a pre-enlistment snapshot rather than a career endpoint.

Chen’s Post-Military Solo Career

After discharge Chen resumed solo work without delay. He issued the mini album Last Scene in October 2022 and followed with Door in May 2024. Japan and Asia tours under the Arcadia banner continued into 2026. These projects sit alongside his ongoing commitments with Xiumin and Baekhyun at INB100, keeping his schedule balanced between individual releases and selective group appearances.

EXO’s Evolving Lineup and 2026 Activities

Every original member has now finished military service. Current plans center on a six-member configuration for a 2026 fan meeting and album cycle, shaped in part by the CBX-SM legal situation. Lay continues to prioritize China-based projects while remaining open to occasional group involvement. The reduced roster has not slowed preparations; instead it has sharpened focus on coordinated comebacks that accommodate each member’s separate contracts.

Chen’s Family Life Update

Chen’s household expanded quickly after the 2020 wedding. The couple’s daughter arrived that April, followed by their son in November 2021. Public updates have stayed minimal, consistent with the family’s preference for privacy. The timeline underscores how Chen balanced early fatherhood with both military duty and the start of his post-service recording slate.

Changes in South Korea’s Military Service System

The statutory framework has remained largely unchanged since 1957, yet practical guidelines have shifted. Service length still varies by branch between eighteen and twenty-one months, and the upper conscription age now extends to thirty-five in certain circumstances. These adjustments reflect ongoing reviews of manpower needs while preserving the core requirement that every able-bodied man complete his term. The system continues to affect K-pop schedules, though staggered enlistments have reduced simultaneous absences within large groups.

Chen’s 2020 letter captured a single moment of transition. With service completed and new music already on shelves, that farewell now reads as one chapter in a longer story still unfolding for both the singer and EXO.