EXO D.O., not Do Kyung-soo, is expected to do well in the future.

Reporter Lee Deok-haeng of Aizize

EXO D.O uses his real name Do Kyung-soo when he is working as an actor rather than a singer. Although she does not see a big difference in identity and pours her love equally, the public subtly separates D.O and Do Kyung-soo. Recently, his performance as Do Kyung-soo has shone a little more than that of D.O. He showed solid acting in many works, raising expectations for his future performance. EXO D.O., who was pushed back for a while, has come forward again with his new mini album. This album showed that the future of EXO D.O., not Do Kyung-soo, is also bright.

D.O. released its second mini album ‘Expectation’ on the 18th. This is a solo album released about 2 years and 2 months after the first mini album ‘Gonggam’ released in July 2021, and Dio’s expectations following Gonggam are captured in the album. Seven tracks are included, from number 1 ‘Somebody’ to number 7 ‘Lost’ (Acoustic Ver.), which showcase Dio’s warm tone and outstanding singing ability. The title song is track 1, ‘Somebody’. ‘Somebody’ is a folk pop song that stands out with its acoustic guitar rhythm and Dio’s sincere emotional tone.

The lyrics contain a story about hoping to meet someone who accepts ‘me’ as I am, not a made-up image. The intro of the song contains the story of eventually getting tired of making up appearances, such as “I keep feeling like I’m not myself”and “I’m just trying to keep up with the eye level that doesn’t always fit.”He continued, “If someone tries to look at me, I don’t want to hide it anymore. Now, if you come and stand next to me, I will walk with you.” “I hope that the moment when you quietly hold my hand as if all my ways are the answer will come to me too.” The song unfolds with the hope of waiting for someone to accept it. Dio’s simple yet sincere singing voice deepens the emotion of the song.

Other songs in the album also contain the keyword ‘expectation’. If ‘Somebody’ was a song about expectations for someone to come, the follow-up track ‘Miracle’ was a song about the hope that everyday life, which was ordinary compared to other people, would meet a special person and become a novel-like story. ‘Falling Stars’, which makes a wish to be with the person next to you forever on a night when a meteor shower falls and expects the other person to give the same answer, is also a song that expresses the expectations felt while being with the person you love.

On the other hand, ‘Lost’ expresses the pain caused by the collapse of the expectations of love that was taken for granted as being together forever. ‘Tomorrow’s Us’ contains expectations about what we will look like and what dreams we will have in the coming tomorrow. ‘The View’ is about reminiscing about someone who suddenly comes to mind in everyday life after a whirlwind of emotions and the hope that the song will remain as a beautiful memory for oneself. Dio, who derived the keyword ‘expectation’ from the narrative that continues from the beginning to the end of love, presented a rich world of music through various emotions.

D.O. boasts such outstanding acting skills that it leaves a deep impression even without the ‘idol background’ modifier. In the recently released movie ‘The Moon’, he played the role of Hwang Seon-woo, a space crew stranded alone on the moon, and received good reviews regardless of the movie’s box office success. Dio also appeared in the music video for ‘Somebody’, expressing natural yet delicate emotions like a youth movie.

In this way, the appearance of actor Do Kyung-soo is becoming more familiar, but without EXO’s D.O, actor Do Kyung-soo would not have existed. Dio also expressed his love for EXO and his singing career, saying, “Although I am an actor, my main job is as a singer, and since it is a group activity, I don’t want to cause any harm.” Dio’s activities as a soloist as well as a group were important, but because he was so busy, the release of his solo album was inevitably pushed back. Some fans expressed concern about solo singer Dio’s hiatus, but Dio dispelled their concerns by standing in front of fans again as a solo singer. The contents inside were also full of solid composition. Rather, the long hiatus became a time for growth as singer D.O., which made me look forward to the future.

The next destination for D.O. and Do Kyung-soo is not acting or singer, but entertainment. Along with Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Woo-bin, and Kim Ki-bang, he will appear in producer Na Young-seok’s new entertainment show ‘I Plant Beans, and Red Beans Grow,’ and I Plant Red Beans, and Red Beans Grow. Do Kyung-soo is expected to play an active role as the ‘golden youngest’ who monopolizes the love of her older brothers based on her extraordinary sense of knowing just by looking at their eyes, her work ethic to maximize efficiency, and her excellent cooking skills. Expectations are high to see what D.O. and Do Kyung-soo will show in the future, as they are very active regardless of their field.