Nine years ago, on December 22, 2011, SM released the first glimpse of what would become one of the biggest boybands in the world when they dropped the first teaser for supergroup EXO. 

Split into two sub-groups that would promote the same songs, but to different markets, the grandiose concept of EXO left many fans confused and yet excited about how SM would roll out the most anticipated boyband of the year.

The first revealed member in the first of many teasers, Kai, danced effortlessly with both fluid and sharp movements, setting the stage for EXO’s exciting debut and instantly capturing the hearts of many.

On the 9th year anniversary of EXO and Kai’s first teaser, let’s look back at the best moments in Kai’s career.

5. Solo stage at the Olympics

How many people can say they’ve performed at the Olympics, much less had a solo stage all to themselves? Kai took to one of the largest stages in the world at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Closing Ceremony, wearing a hanbok and combined modern dance elements with traditional Korean dance.

The most amazing thing was that Kai was actually suffering from plantar fasciitis, a condition where it’s usually difficult to even walk, and had to film all night in the cold for a Levi’s commercial the night before. 

4. First Korean Gucci Global Ambassador

Kai rocked the fashion world when he was appointed the first Korean Gucci global ambassador in 2019, after appearing at a few Gucci Cruises and events in the past years. His eyewear campaign was seen worldwide, and Kai has experimented with many fashion choices that range from comfy and chic to gender-neutral and avant-garde.

Since then, he regularly sells out whatever Gucci outfit or accessory he wears, to the point where one of the Gucci rings he regularly dons has become a “friendship ring” among his fans.

3. Love Shot Kai

The minute Love Shot was released, fans knew EXO had a hit on their hands. The sensual song instantly spawned thousands of dance covers as everyone brought out their inner sexy selves during the addictive chorus.

A fancam released by KBS of the Music Bank Love Shot performance on 14 December 2018 has become the most well-known performance for Kai and is his most viewed fancam ever. The fancam has gone so viral that it never fails to be mentioned as one of the best solo fancams among Knetizens. Currently at 5.6 million views, with 18 million views on the original performance video, red suit Love Shot Kai will go down in history as the legendary fancam.

2. Two words in the what?

“They call me Panty Oppa!” After the famous variety clip on Knowing Bros where Kai hilariously mistook the word “padding” for “panty” in a game, Kai has mentioned that people would approach him on the streets to tell him how much they laughed watching the unintentionally rated scene. 

The viral mistake launched him into the spotlight, and many people discovered Kai’s soft and funny side, a sharp contrast from the intense dancer with the strong aura they usually saw onstage. Panty Oppa is always worth revisiting when you need a good laugh!

1. Kai Solo Debut

Kai’s solo debut was a long time coming, but he didn’t disappoint. He introduced his self-titled album with a breathtaking art film that wove together his soft vocals and heavily R&B inspired songs with the smooth performances that he is best known for. 

In just a short month, Kai racked up an impressive list of achievements, including being the fastest K-Pop soloist MV to hit 10 and 20 million and debuting in 4 different Billboard charts. Kai’s solo is just a peek into what’s to come and he certainly will continue delivering more amazing performances, another 9 years on!