EXO Kai, More Masculine After Discharge [Pictorial]

EXO Kai graced the cover of the April 2025 issue of men‘s lifestyle magazine Esquire. This pictorial garnered even more anticipation as it is Kai’s first pictorial since his discharge from the military.

Kai said, “Actually, until yesterday, I was a little worried whether it would go well or not, but when I actually got on set, it felt like I was doing what I had always done,” and “I realized that this actually brought me peace of mind.” In fact, it is said that the staff on set were amazed throughout the filming because of Kai‘s amazing concentration and his signature gentleness that easily lightened the mood on set.

You can also catch a glimpse of Kai’s honest and affectionate side in the interview. First, he, who is scheduled to make a comeback with a new mini-album this April, explained that he wanted to make this album “after emptying all of my preconceptions about ‘Kai’.” This means that he tried to work without being confined by things like what kind of musician Kai is or what he needs to show at this time.

When asked about the vibe of the new song, he dropped a hint that actually amplified curiosity, saying, “It‘s really hot but also has a very windy feeling.”

He also teased his first solo concert tour, ’KAION,‘ which is scheduled for May. Kai said about his ability to tour 10 cities around the world right after his discharge from the military, “It’s all thanks to the fans who have waited for me.” He expressed his affection by saying, “To repay that gratitude, I want to go to more than just 10 cities, but all over the world.”

When asked about the moment he is most looking forward to, he said, “I‘m definitely looking forward to meeting that perfect moment where there’s nowhere else to go, the end of the ‘us’ relationship that me and my fans have.”

You can see Kai‘s pictorial and interview in full in the April 2025 issue of Esquire and on the website. Esquire’s official YouTube channel also presents various content such as video pictorials, short-form content, and video interviews.

Jeong Hee-yeon, Donga.com reporter shine2562@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.