Park Chanyeol

Park Chan-yeol (Korean: 박찬열; Hanja: 朴燦烈), more often credited as simply Chanyeol, is the main rapper^[11] of the group. Park, born on November 27, 1992 (age 20) in Seoul, South Korea, has one older sister three years his senior, Park Yu-ra,^[3] who works as a CBS news reporter.^{[citation needed]}

Park attended Hyundai Chungun High School in Dong-gu, Ulsan and was admitted to a private acting institution when he was sixteen years old.^[4] Park has been a fan of musical instruments since his primary school years. He has cited the film School of Rock to be his main influence in inspiring him to learn the drums.^[4] He can also play the guitar, thebass guitar, and the djembe.^[12]

During middle school, Park formed the band "Heavy Noise" with his close friends.^[3] After winning second place in a televised uniform modeling contest in 2008,^[13] Park successfully auditioned for S.M. Entertainment through the S.M. Casting System. During this time, he was involved in school's band, "Seiren."^[3] Park made several media appearances prior to his debut with Exo–he appeared in TVXQ's music video, "HaHaHa Song" with Suho and Kai in 2008, and in 2010, he starred in the music video of Girls' Generation Japanese single, "Genie".

Park was the twelfth and last member of Exo to be formally introduced to the public, on February 23, 2012. He cites Jason Mraz and Eminem to be his biggest influences.^[14] Park guest starred in the second episode of the 2013 sitcom, Royal Villa, with Sehun.