EXO Korean idol Suho recently said that it was a difficult time for him and the group when they heard about the departure of their team members.

When South Korea-based entertainment company SM Entertainment formed Chinese-Korean idol group EXO in 2011, there were 12 members divided into two subgroups of six members, EXO-M and EXO-K. But now, EXO is promoting its repackaged album "Love Me Right" with only nine members.

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Last year, EXO-M saw the departure of two Chinese members Kris and Luhan. Kris, the leader of the subgroup, quit the group in May 2014 and filed a lawsuit against SM Management, seeking termination of his contract. And in October, Luhan followed Kris' example, quitting EXO and filing a lawsuit against the company with the same objective. 

Meanwhile, there is much suspense surrounding Tao's future with EXO. He has signed on a couple of solo endorsement deals in China, and recently he set up a one-man studio in the country to concentrate on solo activities. Tao has not been part of EXO's activities since April. He did not take part in the recording of the four new songs for the "Love Me Right" album. He was also not part of the activities to promote the album. He attended an event in China to promote a Chinese mobile game on June 3, the day when EXO members released their repackaged album. SM Entertainment continues to negotiate with him and his father but refuses to confirm whether Tao will stay with EXO or not.

Speaking about the departure of group members, Suho told Yonhap News (via Korea Boo), "We thought of each other as family, so members were shocked and had a difficult time. At times, we just gave up and stopped talking to each other."

They picked themselves up, and now the "team spirit" is up as well, Suho said, adding, "We feel united so everything feels fun."

Originally, EXO consisted of four Chinese members: Tao, Kris, Luhan, and Lay. Now only Lay is actively performing with the group. He told a Chinese publication in April that other members kept asking him whether he was leaving the group as well. He added that as a senior member, it was his responsibility to keep the team together and he would not be leaving. Korea Boo quoted him as saying to SM Weekly, "I need to use my own hard work to show that Chinese people can be trusted."  

TagsEXO, Idol group EXO, EXO Suho, Luhan Departure, Kris Departure, EXO repackaged ablum, Love Me Right