Table of contents
NCT 127’s About
NCT 127 is the first fixed and second overall sub-unit of the innovative South Korean boy band NCT, formed by SM Entertainment, with NCTbeing the acronym for Neo Culture Technology and the number 127 symbolizing the longitude of Seoul, the group’s base city. The fandom name, NCTzen, is representative of all the fans as citizens of NCT (NCity), while the official fandom color is Pearl Neo Champagne.
The group originally featured 7 members: Taeil, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, and Haechan. Doyoung and Johnny later joined in December 2016, while Jungwoo was added in 2018.
NCT 127’s Biography
- Group Name: NCT 127 (엔시티 127)
- Debut Date: July 7, 2016
- Members: Taeyong, Jaehyun, Winwin (currently inactive) Yuta, Mark, Doyoung, Johnny, Jungwoo, Haechan
- Former Member: Taeil
- Agency: SM Entertainment
- Fandom Name: NCTzen (엔시티즌, also nicknamed “Czennie”)
NCT 127’s Music & Choreography Style
NCT 127’s musical identity is deeply rooted in experimentation, pushing the boundaries of traditional K-pop with a bold blend of hip hop, R&B, and EDM. At the core of their sound is what they call “neo music,” a term derived from their group’s name, Neo Culture Technology. Known for their daring sonic choices, NCT 127 has produced standout tracks like the heavy-hitting “Cherry Bomb,” the Latin-infused “Regular,” the anthemic “Kick It,” and the polarizing yet minimalist “Sticker.” Their music is often the result of global collaboration, with American producer Dem Jointz and legendary Korean songwriter Yoo Young-jin frequently shaping their title tracks. As a result, critics like Gelene Penalosa have labeled them the “K-pop kings of noise music,” citing their influence in popularizing avant-garde sounds among fourth-generation idols.
Stylistically, NCT 127 backs up their genre-bending sound with choreography that’s just as intense and unconventional. Their performances are known for their high complexity and synchronization, demanding a level of precision that even seasoned professional dance troupes might find challenging. Rolling Stone’s Tim Chan once described their routines as “difficult for even professional dance troupes to master,” highlighting the group’s commitment to marrying intricate movement with hard-hitting music. They was even called K-pop’s most innovative group by Rolling Stone.
NCT 127’s Official SNS
- Website: nct127.smtown.com
- Instagram: @nct127
- X (Twitter): @NCTsmtown_127
- Facebook: NCT.smtown
NCT 127 Members’ Instagrams
- Taeyong: @taeoxo_nct
- Johnny: @johnnyjsuh
- Yuta: @yuu_taa_1026
- Doyoung: @do0_nct
- Jaehyun: @_jeongjaehyun
- Jungwoo: @sugaringcandy
- Mark: @onyourm__ark
- Haechan: @haechanahceah
- Winwin: @wwiinn_7
- Taeil (Former): @mo.on_air
NCT 127’s Net Worth
According to a report from media outlet South Chine Morning Post (SCMP) in 2022, the richest member of NCT 127 is Taeyong with a net worth of 9 million USD, followed by Mark with 5 million USD. Jaehyun, Johnny, Taeil, and Winwin is estimated to have a net worth of around 1 million to 5 million USD, whereas Yuta, Haechan, and Doyoung is said to be worth 1.5 million USD. Finally, Jungwoo was said to be worth from 100,000 USD to 1 million USD.
It is important to note that these numbers may have vastly changed across the years due to the members’ rising popularity, or may have been impacted by controversies (like in the case of Taeil).
NCT 127’s Career
Formation and Pre-Debut
Before becoming a global K-pop sensation, all ten members of NCT 127 were introduced through SM Rookies, SM Entertainment’s pre-debut training team. Johnny joined as early as 2007 through an audition in Chicago, followed by Yuta and Mark in 2012. That same year, Taeyong and Jaehyun were cast, later joined by Taeil, Doyoung, and Donghyuck (later Haechan) in 2013. Winwin joined in January 2016 and Jungwoo in 2017.
Prior to debut, members appeared in various shows like “Exo 90:2014”, “The Mickey Mouse Club”, and the “SM Rookies Show”. They also released music, such as Taeyong’s “Open the Door” and Taeil’s OST “Because of You.”
Debut with Impact & Members Addition
On July 1, 2016, SM Entertainment unveiled NCT’s second sub-unit: NCT 127. The debut line-up included Taeyong, Taeil, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark, and Haechan. The group debuted on July 7 with the bass-heavy track “Fire Truck” and EP “NCT #127”, which topped charts and earned critical acclaim. Later on, they collaborated with Coca-Cola on “Taste the Feeling.”
Johnny and Doyoung were later added in December 2016 during the SBS Gayo Daejun stage teaser for their next album.
Rise with to Fame & Global Expansion
With Johnny and Doyoung now in the lineup, NCT 127 returned with “Limitless” in January 2017, achieving their first No.1 on the Billboard World Albums Chart. In June, “Cherry Bomb” marked a major breakthrough. The song became a fan-favorite and earned their first music show win, later being dubbed one of 2017’s best K-pop songs by Billboard and Idolator.
The year also saw their international push: appearances at KCON Mexico, LA, and NY, a special showcase at Apple Music, and their first Japanese single release.
As part of the “NCT 2018” project, they released “Touch” in March and debuted in Japan with the EP “Chain” in May. Jungwoo was added to the official lineup in October ahead of their first full-length Korean album “Regular-Irregular”, which went on to enjoy explosive successes.
However, as the group re-release “Regular-Irregular” under the new title “Regulate”, member Winwin did not join the group’s promotional activities due to his preparations to debut with China-based sub-unit WayV. On December 19, it was also announced Haechan would be taking a hiatus from the group due to injury.
Touring and Chart Success
In 2019, NCT 127 embarked on their first world tour “Neo City – The Origin” across Asia, North America, Europe, and South America, and Haechan recovered enough to rejoin the group in March.
Afterward, NCT 127 featured on Jason Derulo’s single “Let’s Shut Up & Dance”, then dropped their Japanese album “Awaken” in April and “We Are Superhuman” in May, with the latter’s title “Superhuman” earning strong reviews. Winwin was still busy with WayV activities and did not promote with the group, while Jungwoo took a health-related hiatus later in the year.
Within this year, they also made history as the first K-pop group to perform at the MTV EMAs and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Covid & Resurgence
After Jungwoo’s return, NCT dropped “Neo Zone”, their second full-length album, in March 2020 with the hit “Kick It.” They were scheduled to embark on their second tour in June 2020 in North America, bit the tour was indefinitely postponed and later canceled entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic
In 2021, after dropping the Japanese EP “Loveholic”, NCT 127 returned with “Sticker” in September, which sold over 2.4 million copies in one week and reached No. 3 on Billboard 200. The repackage, “Favorite”, followed in October and added another million-plus in sales. They then kicked off their second world tour, “Neo City: The Link”, in December.
The group dominated 2022 with the release of “2 Baddies”, a 1.5-million-selling album in its first week, whilst their tour continued with performances at Tokyo Dome and other major venues. The album eventually reached 3.2 million in sales, making it their second triple-million-seller. In 2023, they released “Ay-Yo”, followed by their documentary “NCT 127: The Lost Boys” on Disney+”.
Member Departure and Military Service
2024 saw major changes. Former member Taeil departed from the group following sexual assault allegations, and Jaehyun and Taeyong began their military service. Their sixth studio album “Walk” was released on July 15, while the digital single “Colors” celebrated their Japanese debut anniversary.
Discography
Korean
- Studio albums
NCT #127 Regular-Irregular (2018)
NCT #127 Regulate (repackage) (2018)
NCT #127 Neo Zone (2020)
NCT #127 Neo Zone: The Final Round (repackage) (2020)
Sticker (2021)
Favorite (repackage) (2021)
2 Baddies (2022)
Ay-Yo (repackage) (2023)
Fact Check (2023)
Walk (2024)
- Live albums
Neo City : Seoul – The Origin (2019)
- Mini albums
NCT #127 (2016)
NCT #127 Limitless (2017)
NCT #127 Cherry Bomb (2017)
NCT #127 We Are Superhuman (2019)
- Special singles
“Be There For Me” (2023)
- Promotional singles
“Taste The Feeling” (2016)
- Remix singles
“iScreaM Vol.1 : Kick It Remixes” (2020)
“iScreaM Vol.13 : Sticker Remixes” (2021)
“iScreaM Vol.21 : 2 Baddies Remixes” (2023)
“iScreaM Vol.29 : Fact Check Remixes” (2024)
- Collaborations
“Save” (with Amoeba Culture) (2021)
- OSTs
“Kartrider X Line Friends OST Part.1” (“Freeze”) (2021)
“Analog Trip NCT 127 OST” (“Amino Acid”) (2021)
- Participation releases
ScreaM Records – K-pop ScreaM 1 (“Fact Check (Spearman Remix)” & “Gas (Demicat Remix)”) (2024)
SMTOWN – 2025 SMTOWN : The Culture, The Future (“You in Vague Memory”) (2025)
Japanese
- Studio albums
Awaken (2019)
- Live albums
2nd Tour ‘Neo City : Japan – The Link’ (2022)
- Mini albums
Chain (2018)
Loveholic (2021)
- Digital singles
“Touch” (2018)
“First Love” (2021)
“Sunny Road” (2023)
“Colors” (2024)
English
- Digital EPs
Up Next Session: NCT 127 (2018)
- Digital singles
“Highway to Heaven (English Version)” (2019)
- Collaborations
“Let’s Shut Up & Dance” (with Jason Derulo & Lay) (2019)
- Features
Ava Max – “So Am I” (2019)
