(OSEN)

Amid rumors that Chinese singer Tao is contemplating leaving the K-pop group EXO, fellow Chinese member Xiumin has deleted his Instagram account, raising concern among fans.

SM Entertainment, which manages the 10-member Korean-Chinese idol group, is battling with the group that looks to be coming apart at the seams at the peak of its career.

Tao, recuperating from an ankle injury since January, became the center of rumors of a possible departure after his father posted a letter of appeal on Chinese social media network Weibo on Wednesday.

A part of the letter read, “If I have to choose between (my son) living as a celebrity in Korea and his health and peace, I would choose the latter.”

Almost immediately after the news of Tao’s possible departure broke out, Xiumin abruptly deactivated his Instagram account, with fans speculating the worst.

EXO recently broke the Billboard record for K-pop weekly album sales.

With its latest EP “Exodus,” the group sold over 6,000 copies in the week ending April 5, marking the largest sales week ever for a K-pop album in the U.S.

SM said the letter posted by Tao’s father was “unfortunate,” and that it hoped Tao would continue his music career in China with SM.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)