Despite being put in hot water last year, EXO, the popular South Korean-Chinese boy group has been voted as the 2014 Korean Masterpiece Most Loved by Chinese People.

SM Entertainment, the managing company of the boy band, has recent released a statement, saying that EXO has been selected as last year's Korean Masterpiece Most Loved by Chinese People, a poll which has been jointly conducted by the Korean Marketing  Association and People.cn. which is the online version of the People's Daily of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

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According to media reports, said poll has been inaugurated between July 30 and September 30 of last year. More than 10,000 Chinese citizens, who are currently taking residence in the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and Korea took part in the poll. On the one hand, 42 items had been selected in the three other categories including notable services, durable goods as well as consumer products.

EXO, then a 12-member group, but is now a 10-member group after Chinese members Kris Wu and Lu Han left in May and October respectively after filing lawsuits to nullify their contracts, had been chosen by the voters in the entertainer category. Media outlets have also revealed that the band is the only group of Korean origin that was able to make it to last year's poll.

According to speculations, EXO being selected in said poll is a proof of the Korean entertainment agency's superb production capacities in becoming one of the most powerful brands in the global market. The company has been able to make the boy group as one of the most sought-after music icons in Asia in just a short span of time following their debut back in April 2012.

EXO has also caught the attention of people through their music and won the Most Popular Group award during the Baidu Awards and also the Album of the Year in the Yinyuetai V-Chart Awards. The group, which promotes in Korea and China at the same time, has also received numerous awards in China including the Most Popular Group and Best Group accolades during the Top Chinese Music Billboard Newcomers Awards.

TagsEXO, EXO-K, EXO-M, Suho, Baekhyun, Chan Yeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, Lu Han, Kris, Lay, Chen, Xiu Min, Tao, SM Entertainment