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EXO's Chen roped in for SMTOWN Tokyo Dome concert, fans flex 'beating the antis'

EXO's Chen was sent immense hate after it was announced that he would be getting married and welcoming his first child

SM Entertainment is going all out for their ongoing ensemble project. Their last SMTOWN album featuring all SM artists had been 10 years ago but they are reviving that along with the SMTOWN Live concerts. We first had the ‘SMCU Express’ album which featured currently popular artists like NCT, aespa and Red Velvet along with veterans like H.O.T’s Kangta, BoA and TVXQ. Following the success of the album which is now a certified double-platinum seller, we are also getting the SMTOWN concert at Tokyo Dome on August 27 and 28.

SM celebrated the new year by first holding the 'SMTOWN Live 2022: SMCU Express@Kwangya' concert on January 1 online just like the 2020 version. However, fans are excited as we will now be getting an offline, in-person concert at Tokyo Dome, one of the biggest arenas in Japan with a seating capacity of 55k. On April 25, it was announced that almost all active artists under the label had been roped in including the likes of EXO’s Suho and Chen who have just been discharged from the military.

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EXO’s Chen joins SMTOWN concert

Most of the lineup for the ‘SMTOWN Live 2022: SMCU Express in Tokyo’ is the same as the new year edition. We have H.O.T’s Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, SHINee, Red Velvet, NCT, aespa and DJs Raiden and Ginjo. From Girls’ Generation, we have Taeyeon and Hyoyeon while Heechul and Siwon will not be joining the rest of Super Junior at the concert. As for EXO, Kai will be joined by Chen and leader Suho. Suho was discharged from his mandatory military service on February 13 while Chen was discharged on April 25.

The concert feels extra special for fans since this is the first time we will be seeing Chen after the announcement of his marriage, the birth of his two children and military service. There had been quite a negative reception as antis had demanded that he be removed from EXO. And so with Chen’s first appearance being at one of the biggest events of SM, EXO-Ls (EXO’s fandom) are cheering.

‘It’s over for yall’

One fan tweeted, “AND WHEN CHEN PERFORMS DROP THAT IN TOKYO DOME ITS OVER FOR YALL!” Another EXO-L commented, “Kinda annoyed because ksoo, xiumin & sehun are not in the smtown tokyo concert but delighted with the idea of chen getting to perform live again after all the hates he received when he had a fam. he’s beating the antis y’all. antis dying knowing sm wont gonna let jongdae go.” One joked, “Watch Chen, Kai and Suho not even interact with each other on that SMTOWN Tokyo stage.” Another fan posted, “Since #CHEN is attending the Tokyo Dome I want all of #EXOLs to make the lodest cheer for him who are attending the concert.” One EXO-L commented, “Chen will be part of the SMTOWN live concert in Tokyo this August! Good luck to everyone who is buying tickets! Please shower our Chen with love! Japan is waaaaay too far away for me to go. I’m hoping maybe we’ll get KJD3 this summer! I need a new Chennie album!”