EXO-K是韩国SM Entertainment于2012年正式推出的团体EXO的分队，在EXO后添加代表KOREA的K在韩国进行活动。EXO这个名字从意为太阳系以外的行星“EXOPLANET”一词中得来，寓意新团体“从未知世界来的新星”，分别在韩国开始活动，并逐步进军全球，有将EXO的音乐传遍全世界的抱负。[1]

正式出道前，EXO-K就已成为牛仔品牌的代言人，并登上杂志封面。经过长达一百日的预告期后，EXO全体在2012年3月31日和4月1日分别于中韩两地召开大型新闻发布会，EXO-K并于4月8日的SBS人气歌谣正式出道EXO-K and EXO-M are new boy groups who will lead the world music industry from now on! They are making their debut on the same day and time with the same song in Korea and China. Since it's something that has never been tried before, it will be good enough to capture the attention of fans not only in Korea and China but all over the world. They will come to you slowly but very impressively!