CHEN (첸)

CHEN, born Kim Jong-dae, is a South Korean singer-songwriter best known as the main vocalist of the K-pop group EXO, which he joined at its 2012 debut. In 2016 he became part of EXO's sub-unit EXO-CBX alongside Baekhyun and Xiumin, showcasing a lighter, more playful pop sound distinct from EXO's main releases.

CHEN launched his solo career in 2019 with the EP «사월, 그리고 꽃» (April, and a Flower), followed by «사랑하는 그대에게» (Dear My Dear) the same year. His solo work leans into emotional, ballad-driven R&B and pop, built around his powerful, expressive vocal delivery. In 2022 he released the mini album «사라지고 있어» (Last Scene), with a music video starring actor Park Hae-soo, and in 2023 he expanded into Japanese-language releases with the album «ポラリス» (Polaris). After leaving SM Entertainment, he released the 2024 EP «DOOR» under INB100.

Beyond his own releases, CHEN has lent his voice to numerous Korean drama soundtracks, including «Scarlet Heart Ryeo», «Descendants of the Sun», and «100 Days My Prince», and was featured on Dynamic Duo's «Nosedive» in 2017. His combination of OST work, group activity, and solo output has made him one of the more consistently prolific vocalists to emerge from the K-pop idol system.