# EXO's Lay Vanishes from Fan Meeting: What Forced Him to Flee Korea Overnight? **Imagine the hype building for EXO's long-awaited 'EXO'verse' fan meeting—then, shock: Lay is gone, jetting back to China the same morning.** Fans at Inspire Arena in Incheon were left stunned on December 14 as Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun took the stage without him, performing hits like "Growl" and "I'm Home" to sold-out crowds.[1][4][5] SM Entertainment confirmed Lay's sudden departure, stating he left Korea early that day due to "unavoidable circumstances" after rehearsing just the day before.[1][2][3] Lay himself apologized on Chinese social media, explaining he had to rush to Beijing for an "important event" at the National Center for the Performing Arts—yet the timing raised eyebrows, with whispers of deeper issues like political tensions between China and Korea, including cultural bans.[1][2][3] This comes amid EXO's first full-group comeback post-military service, shadowed by absences from Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen over ongoing legal disputes with SM about contracts and payments.[2][6] Lay's exit fueled fan speculation online: Was it a personal emergency, government summons, or something tying into EXO-CBX's drama? Netizens buzzed, with some calling it "something very serious."[2] Despite the chaos, the fan meeting rocked on—members even shared that Lay was "very disappointed" to miss it.[4][5] With EXO's new album *REVERXE* dropping in January 2026, eyes are on whether Lay rejoins for the next chapter.[2]
*EXO lighting up the stage—minus one member this time. (Unsplash free stock image)*
Citations
1.https://www.allkpop.com/article/2025/12/exos-lay-confirmed-to-have-flown-back-to-china-on-the-morning-of-fan-meeting
2.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/k-pop/music/news/lay-opts-out-of-exo-fan-meeting-left-the-country-the-same-day-fans-speculate-about-the-reason-something-very-serious-must-have-happened/articleshow/125973198.cms
3.https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/11491675
4.https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-entertainment/2025/12/14/23YUZHD2ORGVHKUDNUO7UUEIUE/
5.https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-entertainment/2025/12/14/SOIPHPURH5GXNOCDMNZYO6NSB4/
6.https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/14/lay-zhang-to-be-absent-from-exos-fan-meeting
7.https://hallyuplus.net/threads/exo%E2%80%99s-lay-departed-for-china-on-the-same-day-he-withdrew-from-fan-meeting.92954/
8.https://kpopping.com/news/2025/Dec/14/Lay-Zhang-Misses-EXO-Fanmeeting-Due-to-Unavoidable-Circumstances
9.
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