Haechan

I. Introduction

Lee Donghyuck (Hangul: 이동혁), known professionally as Haechan (Hangul: 해찬), is a Korean singer and dancer. He is a main or lead vocalist in multiple NCT sub-units. He is a main vocalist in NCT Dream, a lead vocalist in NCT 127 and usually a main or lead vocalist in the rotational sub-unit NCT U. All groups sing primarily in Korean, as well as songs in English, Chinese and Japanese.

II. Career

III. 2014-16: SM Rookies & Debut

Donghyuck was born in Seoul on June 6, 2000. He is one of only 8 idols in SM Entertainment to pass SM's famously difficult Saturday audition and 1 of 2 idols in NCT. He joined SM in 2013 and was introduced as a member of the pre-debut SM Rookies group on July 7, 2014. He began appearing with other members of the group in live performances and variety shows, including appearing on "The Mickey Mouse Club."

Donghyuck appeared in the ongoing NCT reality show, NCT Life. In April-May 2016, he appeared in NCT Life in Bangkok, focusing on the members of SM Rookies and their journey to debut. As part of the show, he prepared for shows and appearances in Thailand with other members, including Jaehyun, Hansol, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Ten, Taeil, Mark, Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung.

On June 30, 2016, it was announced that NCT would debut its first permanent sub-unit, NCT 127. He debuted with a new stage name, Haechan, on the EP NCT #127 on July 10, 2016 as one of the lead vocalists, lead dancers and the maknae. Haechan has one of the most distinctive voices in NCT, even as age has warmed and softened some of its textures. It is powerful and unique. It's Haechan's high sharp tones that builds into the chorus on "Fire Truck."

In July-August 2016, he appeared with the other NCT 127 members in the third season, NCT Life in Paju, planning and enjoying games and activities in Paju. Because he and fellow member Mark were still minors, adjustments were often made and mentioned in shows to accommodate them.

Haechan joined the third NCT sub-unit, NCT Dream, which consisted of former SM Rookies Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, and Jisung, as well as two additional members Renjun and Chenle. NCT Dream debuted on August 24, 2016 with "Chewing Gum." NCT Dream was designed as a teenage boy group, with members graduating from the group once they reached adulthood (20 in Korean, 19 international age.) Haechan is one of the main vocalists and lead dancers in Dream.

NCT Dream has a brighter, sunnier pop sound than the other sub-units, although it has an equal emphasis on powerful and intricate dance choreography.

IIII. 2017: Limitless, Cherry Bomb and The First

NCT 127 released its second EP Limitless on January 4, 2017.

NCT Dream released its first single album The First on February 9, 2017, featuring the previously released "Chewing Gum" as well as two new songs. In the same month, NCT Dream were also appointed as official ambassadors for the 2017 FIFA Under 20 World Cup and performed a special song tied into the event.

NCT 127 released its third EP Cherry Bomb in June, making its first appearances in live shows in the U.S. throughout the summer.

NCT Dream released its first EP, We Young, in August. It also released a Christmas single "Joy" as part of SM's digital Station project.

IIIII. 2018: NCT Empathy and First Album

Haechan participated with NCT during the NCT 2018 project on March 14, 2018, featuring all NCT members, and debuting three new ones. This project also included the first NCT full album, NCT 2018 Empathy. He appears as a singer on the NCT 127 song "Touch," the NCT Dream song "Go" and as a dancer in "Black on Black." Haechan's voice lifts the bridge in "Go."

NCT 127 released its first Japanese EP Chain on May 23, 2018.

On August 27, it was announced that the upcoming Dream EP, We Go Up, would be Mark's last, as he was graduating from NCT Dream due to his age. The EP launched on September 3, 2018.

NCT 127 released its first full album Regular-Irregular on October 12, 2018, featuring a popular English version of its lead single, "Regular," that was utilized during the group's United States' based performances. The group also released a repackage Regulate on November 13, featuring the single "Simon Says."

NCT Dream released a winter single and Mark's final song, "Candle Light" on December 27, 2018.

With his outgoing personality, he became a popular guest on variety shows, however on December 19, he was forced to take a hiatus due to injury.

IIIII. 2019: First World Tour

In January 2019, NCT 127 began its first concert tour, Neo City - The Origin, with worldwide stops until May. Haechan rejoined the tour in March in Japan. The group also released its first full-length Japanese album, Awaken. The group then increased its publicity in the U.S. ahead of the release of its fourth EP, We Are Superhuman, including appearing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. They also released an English version of the song "Highway to Heaven" and an accompanying video filmed in California. Some of NCT's most recognizable bridges are on this album, anchored by Haechan, including his Michael Jackson-inflected "Superhuman" bridge and the "oh she's so bad" of "Highway to Heaven." In October, the group released a live album based on the Neo City concert tour, Neo City Seoul - The Origin.

NCT Dream became the first global ambassadors of the World Scout Foundation, then released a new EP, We Boom, in July. NCT Dream began its first tour in November 2019 until the COVID-19 pandemic halted its touring schedule in 2020.

In addition to his activities with NCT 127 and NCT Dream, Haechan continued to appear as a guest on variety shows, including the ninth season, NCT Life: Chuncheon and Hongcheon, with NCT 127 members touring parts of South Korea. He also made his debut singing for NCT U on "Coming Home."

IIIV. 2020: Reload, Neo Zone and Resonance

NCT Dream released a Japanese-exclusive repackage The Dream, while NCT 127 released its second full album, Neo Zone, on March 6, 2020, as well as a repackage Neo Zone: The Final Round on May 19. NCT Dream releases its fourth EP Reload on April 29.

Haechan participated in the NCT 2020 project in October 2020, featuring all NCT members, and debuting two new ones. This project also included a 2-part NCT full album, NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2. He appears as a singer on 127's song "Music, Dance" and NCT Dream's "Deja Vu" as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 3 songs: "90s Love," "From Home" and "Faded in My Last Song." He also features in the combination single "Resonance," which combines multiple songs, with his memorable intro. The entire project also appeared on NCT World 2.0, a competition-focused show.

IIV. 2021: Double million sellers, NCT 2021 and second world tour

NCT 127 released its second Japanese release, Loveholic, in February 2021. Again, Haechan delivers a unique and memorable pre-chorus.

NCT Dream released its first full album, Hot Sauce, in May 2021. The album sold over 2 million copies, making NCT Dream the second artist to sell over 2 million copies of one album. He also appeared in two reality shows supporting the launch, 7Illin' in the Dream and Boys' Mental Training Camp 2.

In June, NCT 127 released a digital single, "Save", a collaboration with the Korean hip hop label, Amoeba Culture. NCT Dream released a repackage of Hot Sauce, Hello Future, on June 28, which also became a million seller.

In August, Haechan released a single as part of an NCT U unit with his NCT 127 group mate Doyoung, "Maniac."

NCT 127 released its third Korean studio album Sticker on September 17, 2021, which was also certified as a 2 million seller. Additionally, Haechan appeared in a new season of NCT Life, NCT Life in Gapyeong and a pair of new shows, Stick Together and Analog Trip NCT 127: Escape from Magic Island. In October, NCT 127 released a repackage of Sticker, Favorite, which became a million seller.

Haechan participated in the NCT 2021 project in December 2021, featuring all active NCT members at the time. This project also included a NCT full album, NCT 2021 Universe. He appears as a singer on NCT Dream's song "Dreaming," NCT 127's song "Earthquake," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 3 songs: the lead track "Universe (Let's Play Ball)," "Round&Round" and "Sweet Dream." He also features in the all-unit song "Beautiful." As part of NCT 2021 promotions, he also appeared in a special short digital series EuMARKJUNGsim, co-hosted by NCT group mates Mark and Jungwoo, and NCT 2021 YearDream, around the group's lore.

On December 19, NCT 127 started its second concert tour, Neo City: The Link, with 3 nights in Seoul. Haechan featured in a duo stage with Taeil with a new song "Love Sign."

Haechan also featured on the 2021 Winter SMTown SMCU Express album on the song "Snow Dream" with other members of the SM maknae line, Yeri of Red Velvet, Ningning of aespa and his group mates Chenle and Jisung of NCT Dream. He also appears on "Hope from Kwangya" with other SM artists.

IIVI. 2022-23 - First OST, more albums

Haechan released his first OST, "Good Person," on March 5. The song charted in Korea, as well as on the Spotify Global Viral charts.

He talked about his work and performed on an episode of NCT's web show "Music Space".

He also featured in the NCT U unit for the March NCT Lab release "coNEXTion (Age of Light)."

NCT Dream released its second album, Glitch Mode, on March 28, along with an accompanying series 7Illin' in our Youth. The album became another 2 million seller. The repackage, Beatbox, also became a million seller.

In September, NCT 127 released its fourth album, the 2 million seller 질주 (2 Baddies). A new promotional series was also launched with the album, Fill It Up, which was similar to Stick Together, a mini reality series tied to Sticker promotions.

Haechan appeared in shows for both NCT Dream and NCT 127 at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul for their respective tours, joining only a handful of kpop groups who have headlined there. As part of the 127 shows, Neo City: The Link+, the group debuted new mini sub-unit tracks. Haechan again with Taeil for a new jazz-inflected R&B song "N.Y.C.T."

During the 127 tour, he required a medical hiatus for a month and did not attend the second North and South American legs of the tour. He returned in January 2023 as NCT 127 released its million selling repackage, Ay-Yo.

In February, NCT Dream released its first Japanese single, "Best Friend Ever,' and continued on global legs of its The Dream Show 2 Tour.

In July, NCT Dream released its third album, ISTJ. The album became another multimillion seller, selling 3.6 million copies in its first week to become the third highest selling album in its first week in South Korea. He also earned his first songwriting credit on this album.

In August, he featured with the rest of NCT 127 in the documentary NCT 127: The Lost Boys. He also featured with the members on the NCT all-unit album, Golden Age and its accompanying all-unit NCT Nation concerts. He appears on the song"PADO."

In September, he released "N.Y.C.T." with Taeil as an NCT U unit as part the SM Station NCT Lab series. He is a co-writer on the song.

In October, NCT 127 released its fifth album, Fact Check. This album was another million seller, selling 1.8 million copies as of October 2023.

III. Discography

IIII. Songwriter

Key: L= Lyricist, C = Composer, A = Arranger, P = Producer

US = Billboard US World Chart

Reference: KOMCA: Searching Works (search LEE DONG HYEOK 10039530 under Writers & Publishers)

IV. Videography

V. Photos

NCT 2020 Resonance

NCT 2023 Golden Age

VI. Trivia

- His NCT emoji is a 🐻 (bear).

- However, he is sometimes referenced as a ☀️ (sun). His stage name Haechan means "full sun." He is often referred to as a sun with 127 member Taeil, due to their nickname of Sun & Moon (for Haechan's stage name and Taeil's last name). The pair have a close relationship and are the oldest and youngest in 127. They even hosted a mini talk show for the launch of Resonance.

- He named his fans Sunflowers.

- Haechan is 1 only 8 idols who passed SM Entertainment's extremely difficult and competitive Saturday open audition, and 1 of 2 in NCT (the other is Jungwoo). Most idols are identified and recruited by talent scouts and recruiters.

- Haechan is boisterous and affectionate - he is the mood maker and the mischief maker. He is also great at solving puzzles or figuring out clues in different group content.

- Haechan is a native Korean speaker and is fluent in English.

- Haechan has color amblyphobia.

- He is a big Michael Jackson and Taemin fan.

- SM released a video using the audio from NCT's MAMA performance that captures the journey of the members through their career.

- NCT members have participated in a NCT 24 Hour Relay Cam that gives a snapshot of their daily lives.