EXO’s D.O. returns  as soloist after two years

After the global success of EXO’s group comeback Exist, member Doh Kyungsoo, known by his stage name D.O., again goes solo with his second mini-album Anticipation, which drops on 18 September.

On 1 September, his agency, SM Entertainment, announced the K-pop idol’s comeback as a solo singer after two years, with a logo update across all their social media platforms and a teaser image showing the singer sitting in front of a desk inside a barely lit room.

D.O. also posted the teaser on his Instagram account, which he opened to the public on 10 July. His IG was a surprise, since the 30-year-old K-pop star has kept a minimal social media presence.

Although details of the mini-album are yet to be announced, the seven-track EP is sure to highlight once again the singer’s vocals. His first solo album, Empathy, was critically acclaimed following its release in July 2021, topping iTunes’ album charts in 60 countries despite minimal promotions.

D.O. is also busy with his acting career and variety show appearances.

The multi-award-winning Korean idol-actor recently led the South Korean sci-fi drama film The Moon (2023), written and directed by Kim Yong-hwa, the esteemed director behind box-office hits Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018).

After bagging his first Male Actor Excellence award at the KBS Drama Awards last year with his impeccable comic acting in Bad Prosecutor, D.O. has bagged nominations for Best Actor at the 2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards with Bad Prosecutor, and another Best Actor nomination at the 32nd Buil Film Awards for The Moon.

D.O. and his bandmates are currently headlining the fourth season of the variety show EXO Ladder. He will also star in a new show by Na Yeong-seok with Kim Woo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo and Kim Ki-bang.

Pre-orders for D.O.’s second mini-album have officially started in various online and offline music stores.