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Suho from Exo, K-pop’s handsome ‘guardian’ who keeps the band together

  • Exo’s lead vocalist, top visual and group leader, Suho debuted with the band in 2012 after more than five years of training
  • He has a reputation as an earnest leader who remains level-headed even in tough situations, always staying positive under pressure

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Why you can trust SCMP
Suho from K-pop boy band Exo was discovered on the streets by a casting manager as a young teen.

His birth name is Kim Jun-myeon, but the world knows him by his stage name, Suho, which has a special meaning in Korean.

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Taken from the Korean verb “to protect like a guardian”, Suho’s stage name as a member of Exo has come to mean more than he probably ever realised. We explain why the “guardian” role is a perfect fit for the leader of the history-making K-pop boy band.

Suho’s early life

Kim was born in Seoul’s wealthy Apgujeong neighbourhood in May 1991. Young Kim was an exemplary pupil, was picked as his junior school class president, and earned admission to the prestigious Whimoon High School. All along he dreamt of being a singer.

Leadership has always been a priority for Suho.
Leadership has always been a priority for Suho.
After being discovered by a casting manager, Suho became a trainee at K-pop company SM Entertainment in his early teenage years. Over more than five years of training he saw fellow trainees and friends, such as Shinee’s Taemin and Jonghyun, debut before him, and he has spoken of dealing with loneliness while waiting for his chance to enter the industry.

Suho’s role in Exo

In early 2012, Suho was introduced as the 10th member of Exo ahead of their official debut in April that year, which confirmed him as the group’s leader.

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