Despite several controversies in 2014, EXO proved they are still on top after receiving numerous recognitions from major year-end music awards.
As the year ended, the idol group once again proved their popularity not only in their home country of South Korea, but also in China. EXO was featured in the "Hunan TV New Year's Eve Concert" where they performed some of their hit songs "Growl," "Overdose," and "Lucky" in Chinese. Chinese member Lay also had a solo performance dancing to his self-composed track, "I'm Coming."
Allkpop reported that the show received the highest ratings of the three year-ender shows, according to Chinese ratings agency CSM50.
Based on the report, the Hunan TV concert received 3.995% of the ratings, whereas the other two competing shows received 1.714% and 1.056%.
The December 31st event also featured other K-pop acts such as idol group WINNER and female soloist Zhang Liyin, Koreaboo reports. They performed at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena before an audience of 10,000 people.
WINNER sang their debut song "Empty," as well as "Just Another Boy." Zhang Liyin, on the other hand, sang "Agape."
The New Year's Eve concert was aired live online on December 31.
Meanwhile, last Friday, EXO fans celebrated the group's 1,000th day since their debut. EXO-L, the official fans club of EXO, took to Twitter and other social media to commemorate the idol group's special day. At some point, #1000DaysWithEXO trended online.
Other fans who supported the group since their debut could not help but remember recent controversies particularly the exit of two Chinese members Wu Yifan (Kris) and Luhan last year. The two left the group in May and October, respectively, after filing separate contract-nullification lawsuits against EXO's record label and management company SM Entertainment.
The court has already appointed rounds of mediation between SM and the artists but as of their last meeting, no settlement has been made between the parties. It was reported that Kris's third mediation is scheduled on January 16, the same day Luhan will be having his second round of mediation.
Meanwhile, the now ten-member group is expected to have a comeback early this year.
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