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  • EXO member Chen turns 23 on Monday, 21 SeptemberInstagram/Chen
  • His real name is Kim Jong-dae.Instagram/Chen
  • EXO Chen with his team mates.Instagram/Chen

Chen, a member of SM Entertainment's popular Chinese-South Korean boy band EXO, celebrates his 23rd birthday on Monday, 21 September.

The young Korean heartthrob recently achieved a new milestone in his career through a solo performance on the music reality show, "King of Mask Singer".

During the show, he hinted on terminating his contract with the entertainment agency and said, "I have always wanted to be judged on my vocals as Chen the singer, rather than as a member of EXO. Even though I was eliminated, this stage means a lot to me."

So speculations are ripe that the singer could be the first Korean member to leave EXO after three Chinese members -- Kris, Luhan and Tao. However, he is yet to make any official statement regarding the recent buzz.

The K-pop star was born in 1992 at Siheung of Gyeonggi-do province in South Korea. He joined SM Entertainment at the age of 18 and made his small-screen debut through SBS show "Gayo Daejun".

The young Korean heartthrob is currently busy with the boy band's EXOPLANET #2 - The EXO'luXion concert tour. Later on, the music group will be unveiling their first Japanese single on 4 November.