SM Entertainment confirmed Nov. 2 that EXO’s Kai and Sehun will release their first mini album as a new EXO unit in December. There’s no name, date or track list yet.
Two of EXO’s best-known faces are teaming up. SM Entertainment confirmed on Monday, Nov. 2, that Kai and Sehun will debut as a new EXO unit in December.
Korean outlet Newsen broke the news, and SM backed it up the same day, according to Soompi.
What did SM Entertainment say about Kai and Sehun?
Here’s SM’s statement, as translated by Soompi: “Kai and Sehun will release their first mini album this December as a new unit of EXO.” The agency added, “We ask for your continued interest and anticipation.”
That’s all SM has shared so far. There’s no official unit name, no release date and no track list. Soompi is calling the pair “Kai x Sehun” for now, which works until SM gives them something fancier.
Why are Kai and Sehun a fan favorite pairing?
Both were born in 1994, and fans have treated them as a duo for years. Soompi points out a few recent moments that set this up.
Sehun made a surprise appearance at Kai’s solo concert last year. The two reunited on “Jeongwating,” a spinoff of Kai’s web show “Jeongwaja,” which translates to “Changing Majors.” They’ll also be travel partners on ENA’s “World Dice Tour 4.”
So, if you felt this one coming, you weren’t imagining things. Fans have read every one of those moments as a hint.
Has EXO had sub-units before?
Yes, a few. EXO launched in 2012 split into EXO-K and EXO-M, two units that promoted in Korea and China.
Later came EXO-CBX, with Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, in 2016. Sehun has done this before, too. He and Chanyeol debuted as EXO-SC in July 2019, Soompi reported at the time.
Kai was part of EXO-K back in the debut days, so this is his first unit since then.
What has EXO been doing in 2026?
A lot, actually. EXO dropped its eighth full album, “REVERXE,” on Jan. 19, 2026, with the title track “Crown.” The Korea Times reported that six members were announced for it: Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay. The album went to No. 1 on Korea’s Circle chart and sold more than 1 million copies.
Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin sat it out. The Korea Times said that was because of an ongoing contract dispute. The Daily Tribune reported in September that the three moved in April to end their contracts with their agency, INB100, and that the case is still in court.
The group then went on tour. EXO PLANET #6, called EXhOrizon, opened at KSPO Dome in Seoul in April and ran through late July, with dates across Asia.
What else have Kai and Sehun done lately?
Kai has four solo EPs: “Kai” with the single “Mmmh” in 2020, “Peaches” in 2021, “Rover” in 2023 and “Wait On Me” in April 2025.
He served as a social service worker starting in May 2023 and finished on Feb. 10, 2025, per ABS-CBN. He then took his solo tour to the U.S., with stops in Los Angeles, Grand Prairie, Atlanta, Rosemont and New York.
U.S. fans might also remember Kai from SuperM, the K-pop supergroup SM built for the American market in 2019.
Sehun enlisted as a social service worker in December 2023. He was discharged on Sept. 20, 2025, which meant every EXO member had finished their mandatory service, allkpop reported. He’s also stayed busy as an actor, including a role opposite Song Hye Kyo in “Now, We Are Breaking Up.”
When will Kai and Sehun’s mini album come out?
SM just says December. Expect teasers, a unit name and a track list to start dropping in the next few weeks. SM usually rolls out concept photos and video teasers before a release, so watch EXO’s official accounts.
December is a crowded month in K-pop, with year-end shows and holiday releases everywhere. A Kai and Sehun unit should have no trouble standing out, though. Their fans have been ready for this one since long before SM made it official.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Soompi (Nov. 2, 2026), SM’s statement, the pair’s recent shows and EXO-SC history
Korea Times (Jan. 19, 2026), REVERXE lineup and the contract dispute
Daily Tribune (Sept. 8, 2026), the INB100 case
ABS-CBN (Feb. 10, 2025), Kai’s discharge
allkpop (Sept. 20, 2025), Sehun’s discharge
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