Lay (레이)

Zhang Yixing — known professionally as Lay — occupies a distinctive position as the sole Chinese member to have remained with the South Korean-Chinese group EXO while simultaneously building an independent career in China as a singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor.

Membership in EXO

EXO launched as one of the defining group projects of the early 2010s Korean Wave, with SM Entertainment constructing a multinational lineup that included several Chinese members. As that lineup changed over the years, Lay continued to hold his place on the roster, maintaining his affiliation with the group even as the bulk of his professional activity shifted to the Chinese market.

Solo & Wider Activities

Beyond his group role, Lay has pursued work across multiple disciplines in China — recording and releasing music under his own name, performing as a dancer, and taking on acting projects. The breadth of those activities places him among a small number of idols who have sustained parallel careers in both the Korean and Chinese entertainment industries.

His reach within the Chinese market has extended to mentorship and collaboration with newer acts. Rookie group NouerA, managed by Nouer Entertainment and in their second year since debut, drew attention in early 2026 partly through an association with Lay, a connection that coincided with the group charting on China's Douyin challenge chart and earning a first-place finish on Mnet's *M Countdown* pick ranking. International audiences took notice as well, with fans in Germany responding positively to a NouerA collaboration tied to Lay's involvement.

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The available material does not supply sourced discography titles, chart positions, sales figures, or awards for Lay's solo work. A fuller account of those achievements would require additional verified data.