EXO’s KAI & SEHUN to Debut as New Unit EXO-KASE with First Mini Album, 'Waking Up The City'

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Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | November 12, 2026

EXO’s KAI and SEHUN to Debut as New Unit EXO-KASE with First Mini Album, Waking Up The City, Out December 1

KAI and SEHUN of K-pop powerhouse EXO are joining forces as EXO-KASE, the group’s newest subunit.

The duo’s debut mini album, Waking Up The City, is set for release on December 1. Spanning seven tracks and a range of moods, the album will include the title track of the same name as well as solo songs from each member.

Both born in 1994, KAI and SEHUN have long been a fan-favourite pairing. Combining KAI’s bold charisma and electrifying stage presence with SEHUN’s effortless cool and magnetic appeal, EXO-KASE is set to deliver captivating performances that showcase their distinct styles and undeniable chemistry.

The duo teased their debut at last week’s “EXO PLANET #6 - EXhOrizon [dot] -” concerts in Seoul, which closed EXO’s sixth headline tour. “The performance is what we’re most excited about. We’re really confident in it, so please look forward to it and give us your honest feedback,” SEHUN said. The pair also gave fans a sneak peek at the title track’s choreography.

Released on November 11 at midnight KST across EXO’s official social channels, the duo’s launch film, “It’s Time To Wake Up,” offers a first look at EXO-KASE. The stylish film captures KAI and SEHUN crossing paths, signaling the beginning of a new chapter as a unit.

Physical versions of EXO-KASE’s first mini album Waking Up The City are now available for pre-order through online and offline retailers worldwide.

About EXO

Since their debut in 2012, EXO have defined a generation of K-pop with their distinctive sound and powerful performances. Beginning with “MAMA,” the group has delivered a string of major hits including “Wolf,” “Growl,” “Overdose,” “CALL ME BABY,” “LOVE ME RIGHT,” “Monster,” “Lotto,” “Ko Ko Bop,” “Power,” “Tempo,” and “Love Shot,” sparking what became widely known as the “EXO syndrome.”

EXO’s debut full-length album became Korea’s first million-seller in 12 years in 2013, and the group later became the first act to debut in the 2000s to surpass 10 million cumulative album sales in Korea. In 2026, their eighth full-length album, REVERXE, became their eighth career million-seller, marking a triumphant return after two and a half years and earning recognition from Forbes and NME as one of the year’s most anticipated releases.

The group is also known for its signature fictional universe, in which each member possesses a distinct superpower, a narrative woven through their music, music videos, original content, and “EXO PLANET” concert series, launched in 2014. EXO recently wrapped their sixth headline tour, “EXO PLANET #6 - EXhOrizon,” selling out all 30 shows across 14 destinations worldwide. The tour closed with three sold-out encore shows at Seoul’s KSPO DOME from November 6–8, 2026, drawing approximately 33,000 fans and reaffirming EXO’s enduring global appeal.