The Pulse of K-Entertainment

Chen
ArtistINB100

Chen

Chen (첸), born Kim Jong-dae (김종대), is one of the defining vocal technicians of his generation. He debuted with EXO in 2012 after a short but decisive trainee period at SM Entertainment, and he quickly built a reputation for precision, control, and the kind of emotional lift that makes a chorus feel larger than the arrangement around it.

That voice traveled well beyond group records. His OST run turned him into a dependable chart presence, from The Best Luck to Everytime, and his solo catalog showed a more intimate lane without losing technical weight. April, and a Flower and Dear My Dear positioned him as a ballad specialist with mainstream reach, while 2024's Door expanded the live chapter through the Beyond the Door fan-concert series.

His current structure is split in a way that reflects modern EXO reality. Group activities still connect back to SM, while solo management now runs through INB100, the label founded by fellow EXO member Baekhyun. That setup has given Chen a cleaner lane for individual releases while preserving his place inside one of K-pop's most durable catalogs.

By 2026, Chen remains a benchmark singer first. Trends move around him, but the reason people return to his work is stable: range, tone, diction, and the ability to make even heavily arranged pop feel personal. That is why his catalog keeps aging well across EXO records, drama OSTs, and solo releases.

EXO
Main Vocalist of EXO
EXO-CBX
Main Vocalist of EXO-CBX
1 articles5 creditsDebut: April 8, 2012South Korean

Gallery

Discography

2024
DoorEP
Solo ArtistINB100
2019
April, and a FlowerEP
Solo ArtistSM Entertainment
2019
Dear My DearEP
Solo ArtistSM Entertainment
2016
EverytimeOST
Solo Vocalist
2014
The Best LuckOST
Solo Vocalist

Fans Also Ask

When did Chen debut?
Chen debuted as a member of EXO on April 8, 2012. He was formally introduced as EXO's fourth member on December 29, 2011. His solo career launched on April 1, 2019, with the EP April, and a Flower, which peaked at number two on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart.
What is Chen's real name?
Chen's real name is Kim Jong-dae (김종대). He was born on September 21, 1992, in Daejeon, South Korea, and grew up in Siheung. He joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2011. Chen is his Korean stage name (첸), derived from the Chinese reading of his name.
What agency is Chen under?
Since January 2024, Chen's solo activities are managed by INB100, the independent label founded by Baekhyun in June 2022. His activities as a member of EXO and EXO-CBX remain under SM Entertainment. His INB100 page is at inb100.com/42.
What solo albums has Chen released?
Chen has released four solo Korean EPs: April, and a Flower (2019), Dear My Dear (2019), and Door (May 2024) with lead single 'Empty'. He is also known for OST recordings including 'The Best Luck' (It's Okay, That's Love, 2014) and 'Everytime' (Descendants of the Sun, 2016), both chart-toppers.
Is Chen married?
Yes. Chen announced his marriage in January 2020, becoming the first active EXO member to publicly wed. He and his wife have two children: a daughter born April 29, 2020, and a second child born January 19, 2022. The announcement drew widespread attention given K-pop's cultural norms around public relationships.

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815 VIDEO Accuses INB100 of Leaving $44K Unpaid for Xiumin's "Overdrop" Music Video

Production company 815 VIDEO has publicly accused Xiumin's agency INB100 of failing to pay 65.96 million KRW for the "Overdrop" music video and teaser, threatening legal action.

PakMarch 24, 2026
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