The announcement of EXO’s upcoming activities featuring only six members—Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay—has triggered a heated and sharply divided reaction among Korean netizens.
Following a lengthy public dispute and legal battles between SM Entertainment and the subunit EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin), the group’s social media update on November 7, 2025, confirming the new formation has been met with both strong approval and harsh condemnation.
This latest development underscores the deep chasm that now splits the fandom over issues of corporate loyalty, contract integrity, and personal member scandals.
The Battle Over Contracts and Loyalty
For a segment of Korean netizens, the exclusion of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin is seen as a necessary and justified move by SM Entertainment.
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Their perspective is heavily influenced by the legal context of the dispute, which saw the court dismissing the trio’s lawsuits against the company over contract terms and profit settlements.
- Upholding Trust: Many comments emphasize the importance of “principles and trust.” They argue that allowing the trio to breach or tamper with agreements—especially after the court dismissed their case—would set a dangerous precedent in the K-pop industry.
- “Loyal Ones” Remain: Netizens have adopted an ‘us vs. them’ mentality, celebrating the remaining six members as the “loyal ones.” The controversy is framed as a betrayal by the three members, with some going so far as to call them “traitors,” drawing parallels to the previous departures of Chinese members.
- Criticism of CBX’s Motives: There is a palpable sense of scorn toward CBX, with some arguing that the trio’s solo endeavors lack star power and that they only wish to promote as EXO to “earn more,” suggesting a lack of genuine commitment to the group and its fans.
The ‘Yeol-dari’ Shadow: Scrutiny on the Remaining Members
The strong support for the “loyal six” is not unanimous. The discussion on the new lineup quickly pivoted to intense criticism of a remaining member, Chanyeol, reviving a long-standing personal scandal that has plagued the group’s image.
The ‘Yeol-dari’ Nickname: One netizen specifically questioned the inclusion of “Yeol-dari” in the new formation.
This nickname is a derogatory play on the Korean word yangdari (양다리), which literally means ‘two legs’ and is slang for “cheating” or “dating two people at once.”
- Revived Allegations: The name references serious allegations that surfaced in 2020 from a person claiming to be his former girlfriend, who accused him of repeatedly cheating on her.
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- Double Standards: For these critics, the group’s new “loyal” image is seen as hypocritical when a member with a significant and damaging personal scandal is still being promoted while Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin are sidelined primarily for a contract dispute. This highlights the complex moral metrics Korean netizens often apply to idol controversies.
A Reflection of K-Pop’s Strict Morality
Ultimately, the fierce debate surrounding EXO’s six-member lineup reveals the uncompromising nature of South Korean public opinion on celebrity conduct.
The consensus among the most vocal commenters favors the corporate line, prioritizing the sanctity of exclusive contracts and perceived group loyalty.
However, the continuing scrutiny of Chanyeol shows that issues of personal morality and public image—especially cheating allegations—are not forgotten and continue to fuel internal fan divisions, complicating SM Entertainment’s narrative of a clean, regrouped, and loyal EXO.
