EXO member TAO, who has been swept up in rumors that he is leaving the K-pop boy group, established his one-man label Tao Workshop in China, making his exit official.

According to local reports Friday, Chinese-native Tao on Thursday started his own management company, a move that marks the beginning of his solo career in his home country.

In January this year, Tao had suffered an ankle injury during a basketball game on the TV program “2015 Idol Star Athletics Championship,” which stopped him from fully promoting EXO’s second full-length album with other members in March.

Tao (Yonhap)

After the injury, Tao’s father expressed that Tao would leave the group, citing his health concerns. The group’s label SM Entertainment, in response, claimed that it is seeking ways to strengthen its relationship with Tao. However, the possibility of Tao’s departure was cemented when Tao recently attended a promotional event of a Chinese mobile game in China by himself. Also, the remaining nine-member EXO recently released a new song and started its promotional activities without Tao.

According to multiple reports, Tao is slated to launch an acting career in China.

EXO’s repackaged album “Love Me Right” has been sweeping local charts since its release on June 3. Three of the four Chinese members -- Kris, Luhan and Tao -- have left the group, leaving Lay the only remaining Chinese member of the group.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)