Kai from Exo: one of the best dancers in K-pop, and possibly its most voracious reader too

As Exo’s main dancer, Kai dominates the stage with his powerful but graceful movements, but in his free time he turns into an introverted bookworm and loves talking about the novels he is reading

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Kai from Exo, one of K-pop’s most popular and successful boy bands.

Published: 8:02pm, 1 Sep 2018Updated: 10:55am, 18 Feb 2020

While he is known as one of the best dancers in the K-pop industry, Exo member Kai has a more serious, thoughtful side away from the stage.

In the six years since their debut, Exo have experienced some great highs and a few lows. For five years in a row they have won the album of the year award at the year-end Mnet Asian Music Awards (a first for any K-pop artist), but they also saw the loss of three Chinese members – Luhan, Kris and Tao – amid legal battles. Still, the departures don’t seem to have affected the group’s popularity and their fan base continues to swell.

Exo’s popularity is evident everywhere in South Korea. Walking past a junior school three years ago, I was concerned to see a group of girls crying uncontrollably. When I asked what was wrong, they responded with a look of annoyance that I didn’t know already. “Tao has left Exo!”

Another example is the popular cafe owned and managed by Kai’s family in the fashionable Seocho district of Seoul. A mix of Korean and foreign fans throng to the eatery, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kai. If they are not that lucky, his friendly sister is usually there to share anecdotes about her baby brother.

Here’s what else you need to know about the 24-year-old singer.

Kai was a shy child until he discovered jazz.