EXO leader Suho has opened up about his journey as a group leader while watching SEVENTEEN's S.Coups discuss how he has guided his 13-member team for more than a decade. During a recent discussion among K-pop group leaders, Suho admitted that he sometimes wonders whether he should have led EXO differently, particularly while observing the way SEVENTEEN has remained together since debut.
The conversation brought together leaders including Suho, S.Coups, BOYNEXTDOOR's Jaehyun and Sechs Kies' Jiwon. As they discussed the challenges of managing idol groups, SEVENTEEN's long-running 13-member lineup became one of the main topics.
S.Coups' Leadership Of SEVENTEEN Earns Praise
S.Coups spoke about SEVENTEEN's youngest member Dino and explained his view that a team functions smoothly when its oldest and youngest members properly fulfil their roles. The discussion highlighted the difficulty of leading a group with 13 members for such a long period.
Jaehyun described SEVENTEEN as a kind of textbook example for younger idol groups, while Jiwon praised the group's ability to remain together for more than 10 years. SEVENTEEN debuted in 2015 and has continued with all 13 members, making its long-term team structure a notable part of its story.
Suho Admits He Sometimes Regrets His Leadership
Listening to the discussion, Suho reflected on his own experience as EXO's leader. He admitted that there are moments when he feels regret and wonders whether he should have followed an approach similar to S.Coups. His comment was presented as a personal reflection rather than a criticism of his own members.
Suho was looking back at the different challenges EXO experienced throughout its career while comparing them with SEVENTEEN's long-running lineup. Jiwon responded by reminding Suho that he had led EXO in his own way and had brought the group through its own journey.
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EXO's Journey Has Been Different From SEVENTEEN's
Suho's comments also brought attention to the contrasting histories of the two groups. EXO debuted in 2012 with 12 members, but Kris, Luhan and Tao later left the group, resulting in a nine-member lineup.
Military service and individual activities subsequently created periods when EXO could not promote as a complete group. These circumstances are different from SEVENTEEN's experience, which has seen all 13 members remain part of the group for more than a decade.
Suho's Leadership Philosophy Gets More Attention
The discussion also offered a glimpse into how Suho approaches his responsibilities as EXO's leader. In another part of the conversation, he explained that being a leader means holding himself to a high standard, particularly when giving members feedback.
Suho said he needs to be careful about criticising areas such as dance because he must also make sure he performs correctly himself. His comments show the pressure that comes with leading an experienced idol group while also maintaining his own role as a performer.
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