NCT 127

  • I.

    II. Introduction

    NCT 127 is a Korean boy band and a permanent sub-unit of NCT. NCT is unique among K-Pop groups due to the fact that the concept of NCT is an ever expanding group with "unlimited" members and is comprised of several individual subunits. The NCT 127 sub-unit currently consists of nine members (Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, Haechan), with a former member Winwin, who moved to a different sub-unit, WayV. NCT 127 focuses heavily on hip hop, EDM and r&b influences, while using experimental textures and layered vocals within its songs.


    III. Members


    Taeil (태일)
    Real Name: Moon Taeil (문태일)
    Main Vocalist
    Birthday: 6/14/94
    Zodiac Sign: Gemini
    Nationality: Korean
    NCT Emoji: 🌕
    IG: @mo.on_air

    Johnny (쟈니)
    Real Name: Johnny Suh
    Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Sub Rapper
    Birthday: 2/9/95
    Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
    Nationality: American
    NCT Emoji: 🐱
    IG: @johnnyjsuh


    Taeyong (태용)
    Real Name: Lee Taeyong (이태용)
    Leader, Main Rapper, Main Dancer, Center, Visual
    Birthday: 7/1/95
    Zodiac Sign: Cancer
    Nationality: Korean
    NCT Emoji: 🌹
    IG: @taeoxo_nct
    Weibo: @泰容_TAEYONG
    TikTok: @tik_tyong
    YouTube: @TAEYONG_TYTRACK
    SoundCloud: @taeoxo

    Yuta (유타)
    Real Name: Nakamoto Yuta (中本悠太)
    Lead Dancer, Vocalist, Sub Rapper
    Birthday: 10/26/95
    Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
    Nationality: Japanese
    NCT Emoji: 🍒 (was 🐙 )
    IG: @yuu_taa_1026


    Doyoung (도영)
    Real Name: Kim Dongyoung (김동영)
    Main Vocalist
    Birthday: 2/1/96
    Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
    Nationality: Korean
    NCT Emoji: 🐰
    IG: @do0_nct
    Weibo: @道英DOYOUNG

    Jaehyun (재현)
    Real Name: Jung Yoon Oh (정윤오)
    Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Sub Rapper, Visual
    Birthday: 2/14/97
    Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
    Nationality: Korean
    NCT Emoji: 🍑
    IG: @_jeongjaehyun

    Jungwoo (정우)
    Real Name: Kim Jungwoo (김정우)
    Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer
    Birthday: 2/19/98
    Zodiac Sign: Pisces
    Nationality: Korean
    NCT Emoji: 🐶
    IG: @sugaringcandy

    Mark (마크)
    Real Name: Mark Lee
    Main Rapper, Main Dancer, Sub Vocalist
    Birthday: 8/2/99
    Zodiac Sign: Leo
    Nationality: Canadian
    NCT Emoji: 🐯
    IG: @onyourm__ark
    Weibo: @我有重要的话说

    Haechan (해찬)
    Real Name: Lee Donghyuck (이동혁)
    Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Maknae
    Birthday: 6/6/2000
    Zodiac Sign: Gemini
    Nationality: Korean
    NCT Emoji: 🐻
    IG: @haechanahceah
    Weibo: @楷灿HAECHAN
    (inactive with 127, now with WayV since 2018)
    Winwin (昀昀)
    Real Name: Dong Sicheng (董思成)
    Lead Dancer, Vocalist

    IV. Career

    IVI. Formation

    SM announced plans to debut the second NCT sub-unit and first permanent sub-unit on July 1, 2016. Reflective of the NCT concept of units based in different global locations, the new unit NCT 127 was based in Seoul, South Korea. The name 127 represents the longitude of Seoul. The group originally included pre-existing NCT members Taeil, Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun and Mark, as well as their fellow former SM Rookies Winwin and Haechan.


    IVII. Debut

    Prior to their debut as NCT 127, many members appeared in an ongoing NCT reality show, NCT Life, throughout April-June 2016., focusing on their journey to debut in NCT, as well as competing in competitions and events. The second season, which included Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun and Winwin, aired in June, just ahead of the group's debut.


    NCT 127 debuted on July 7, 2016, with the single "Fire Truck" and performed on music show M Countdown on the day of debut. NCT became the first sub-unit to release an EP or album on July 10, 2016, with its first EP, NCT #127. The EP reached the top of the Gaon Album Chart by the third week and #2 on the U.S. Billboard World Album Charts. The EP also entered the French Digital Albums Chart and Oricon Albums Chart.


    The group also collaborated with Coca-Cola for a promotional single, "Taste the Feeling" on July 29 as part of the SM Station digital project.


    In July-August 2016, all NCT 127 members appeared in the third season of NCT Life, NCT Life in Paju, with the other 127 members planning and enjoying games and activities in Paju. In October-November 2016, all 127 members appeared in the fourth season, NCT Life: Korean Food King Challenge, a cooking competition show also featuring non-127 NCT member Ten.


    IVIII. 2017: New Members, Limitless and Cherry Bomb

    On December 27, 2016, SM announced the release date of NCT 127's next EP in January, as well as introducing two new members of NCT 127, Johnny and Doyoung. Both members had previously been in SM Rookies and Doyoung had debuted as part of NCT U in April 2016. NCT 127 released its second EP Limitless on January 4, 2017. This also reached the top of the Gaon Chart, and became their first release to top the U.S. Billboard World Albums Chart.


    NCT 127 members returned to NCT Life ahead of promotions for the next EP. Members toured Thailand for the sixth season NCT Life in Chiang Mai in March-April 2017, with non-127 NCT member Ten serving as a tour guide.


    NCT 127 released its third EP Cherry Bomb on June 14, 2017. It made its first appearances in live shows in the U.S. throughout the summer. Cherry Bomb's eponymous lead single was 127's first single to chart on the Gaon Digital Chart, reaching #47. It also earned them their first Music Show win. The EP debuted at #2 on Gaon Albums Chart and Billboard World Albums, #22 on Oricon Charts and #21 on Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart.


    NCT 127 expanded promotions overseas, appearing at KCON events in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as being the first Kpop artist invited by Apple Music to be the "New Artist of the Week." The group also released a Japanese version of "Limitless."


    In June-July 2017, several NCT 127 members appeared in the seventh season, NCT Life in Osaka, touring Osaka with Yuta as a guide.


    IVIV. 2018: Empathy, Line-Up Changes and First Album

    NCT 127 participated 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. The album featured songs from all three existing NCT sub-units at the time, including the rotating combination sub-unit NCT U and the two permanent sub-units, NCT 127 and NCT Dream. NCT 127 had one song, "Touch" featured on the albums, and NCT 127 members participated within the NCT U units for "Boss," "Baby Don't Stop," "Yestoday", "Black on Black," "Timeless," "The 7th Sense" and "Without You." They are also dancers in "Black on Black."


    "Touch" entered the Billboard Kpop Hot 100 and peaked at #54.


    On May 18, NCT 127 released their first Japanese EP, Chain, which debuted at #2 on the Oricon Charts. It also reached #8 on the U.S. World Albums Chart.


    NCT 127 members appeared in another season of NCT Life, NCT Life: Hot & Young Seoul Trip, featuring three of its foreign-born members touring Seoul with three members of the future WayV sub-unit.


    NCT 127 announced the addition of a new member, Jungwoo, who had previously debuted as part of the NCT 2018 Empathy project. 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 U.S.-based performances. The song was NCT 127's first English language song and became its first song in Billboard's Hot 200 Charts, debuting at #86. The album debuted at the top of the Gaon Album Charts and finished the year-end charts in 17th place. It was their first to receive a Platinum KMCA certification for selling over 250,000 copies. It also charted in Australia, France, the UK and the U.S. Billboard World Albums (#2) and U.S. Top Albums (#23). "Regular" reached #92 on the Gaon Charts #2 on Billboard US World Digital and charted in Singapore.


    The group was also announced as part of Apple's Up Next Artist series, including appearances on U.S. TV shows and a special digital EP Up Next Session: NCT 127 available on Apple Music. Winwin was moved to a new NCT sub-unit, WayV, beginning a hiatus from the group on November 22, 2018.


    A repackage was released on November 23, Regulate, featuring a new single "Simon Says." "Simon Says" became its first song to top the Billboard U.S. Digital Song Sales Chart, as well as charting in New Zealand. On December 19, Haechan took a hiatus due to injuries.


    IVV. 2019: First World Tour and Album

    In January 2019, NCT 127 began its first concert tour, Neo City - The Origin, with worldwide stops until May, with Haechan rejoining the group in March. The group also featured on a single with Jason Derulo and Lay Zhang, "Shut Up and Dance."


    The group also released its first full-length Japanese album, Awaken, on April 17. The group then increased its publicity in the United States ahead of the release of its fourth EP, We Are Superhuman, on May 24, 2019, including appearances on popular TV shows. They also released an English version song "Highway to Heaven" of the Korean song on the EP and an accompanying video filmed in California. This album became their highest U.S. debut, debuting and peaking at #11 on the U.S. Billboard 200, making them the second highest debuting Kpop group in the chart. It also debuted at the top of the World Albums Chart. It debuted at #1 on the Gaon Charts and become their second Platinum-certified album. It debuted at #6 on Japan's Oricon Charts, as well as charting in Canada, France, Spain, UK and Australia. "Superhuman" debuted at #3 in U.S. World Digital Song Sales and on the Gaon Digital Charts.


    However, during this time, Jungwoo took a hiatus from NCT 127 due to health issues from August 2019 to January 2020. Members continued to promote heavily in the U.S. and Europe, becoming the first Korean artist to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and MTV European Music Awards.


    NCT 127 members appeared in the ninth season, NCT Life: Chuncheon and Hongcheon, touring parts of South Korea.


    The group released a live album of its tour, Neo City: Seoul - The Origin.


    IVVI. 2020: Neo Zone and Resonance

    NCT 127 released its second full album, Neo Zone, on March 6, 2020. Neo Zone became NCT 127's highest selling and best performing album. The album topped the Gaon Charts, and earned their first top five entry into the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It became their first release to earn multi-platinum certification in Korea and their first seller over 1 million copies. It also topped Billboard's World Album Charts, Top Album Sales Chart and Tastemaker Albums Charts, while charting in Canada, the U.K., Japan, Belgium, Lithuania and Poland. The album ended the year 3X Platinum in Korea and the 8th highest selling album of the year. The lead single "Kick It" reached the the top 30 on the Gaon Digital Chart, which was their highest position, as well as charting all tracks except the interlude.



    NCT 127 released a repackage Neo Zone: The Final Round on May 19, featuring four new songs including a new single "Punch." This album also topped the Gaon Chart and was 2x Platinum in Korea by the end of the year.The single reached #5 on the Gaon Digital Chart. The group was originally scheduled to tour in support, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


    NCT 127 members also participated in the NCT 2020 project in October 2020, featuring all NCT members, and debuting two new ones. This project also included a NCT full album and repackage, NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2. The albums featured songs from all four existing NCT sub-units, including the rotating combination sub-unit NCT U and the three fixed sub-units, NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV. NCT 127 had one song, "Music Dance" featured on the albums, and a combination of NCT 127 members participated on every NCT U unit song. They also feature in the combination single "Resonance," which combines multiple songs. The entire project also appeared on NCT World 2.0, a competition-focused show.


    IVVII. 2021: Record-Setting SalesLoveholic, "Save" and Sticker

    NCT 127 released its third Japanese release, Loveholic. The album was certified Gold in Japan and debuted at the top of the Oricon and Billboard Japan charts.


    On June 4, NCT 127 released a digital single, "Save", a collaboration with the Korean hip hop label, Amoeba Culture.

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    It was announced on June 28, 2021 as part of the SM Congress 2021 that NCT 127 would have a new full album and repackage in October. During an online fan meeting, the timing was later amended to September.


    On August 23, NCT 127's third Korean studio album was announced: Sticker would debut on September 17, 2021. During pre-launch promotions, the repackage was reconfirmed. Ahead of launch, SM announced 2.2 million copies had been preordered. NCT 127 also launched a new season of NCT Life, NCT Life in Gapyeong and a new web series tied to the album's promotional campaign, Stick Together.


    Sticker launched with the sixth highest first-day sales in Hanteo history, behind three other artists, selling 760,902 copies. Additionally, NCT 127 became the fourth-highest group in first-day sales in Hanteo history, again behind those artists. The album also reached #1 on the Hanteo and Gaon charts in Korea, QQ Music in China, Oricon chart in Japan and the iTunes chart in 18 countries, as well as debuting at #2 on the worldwide chart. It also became the biggest album debut for a SM artist on Spotify. It also debuted at #3 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, joining only 3 other k-pop groups that debuted in the top 10. The album also became NCT 127's first to debut on the UK charts at #40.


    The song "Sticker" topped Melon, Bugs and VIBE charts, while other singles from the album also charted. NCT 127 earned their first "all kill" on Melon's chart with all 11 of the songs taking the top 11 spots on the chart. It entered the Gaon weekly chart at #17, while the b-side "Lemonade" reached #144. "Sticker" also earned an all-kill on the Korean music shows, including NCT 127's first win on Inkigayo.


    On September 23, SM reported that the album had sold over 2.1 million copies. Sticker topped the Gaon monthly charts for September with 2,277,575 copies sold, becoming the best-selling album in SM Entertainment history and breaking the record set by NCT Dream in May with Hot Sauce. On November 11, the album was certified a Double Million Seller by Gaon, becoming their first album to do so. At the time, the album had sold 2.4 million copies and it became the 2nd highest selling album of the year in Korea for the year.


    The album was also the second highest male act on the U.S. Billboard Album chart with 211,000 sold and the seventh overall. It also became the longest-charting kpop album on the Billboard 200 charts in 2021 and only the third kpop artist to chart that long (17 weeks as of January 24, 2022).


    The album also earned the group a Gaon Chart Music Award for Artist of the Year (Physical Album) - 4th Quarter and a Bonsang at the Seoul Music Awards.



    Sticker's repackage album, Favorite, was released on October 25. The vampire-theme of the lead single's MV inspired social content, with the group also launching a new series with YouTube Originals, Analog Trip NCT 127: Escape from Magic Island. Despite being released only 5 weeks after Sticker, Favorite reached over 1 million in pre-order sales. Favorite reached #2 on the Gaon charts and debuted at #4 on the Apple iTunes Worldwide Chart. Within 1 week, SM reported it had 1.1 million in sales. Gaon reported 2.4 million in sales for the highest selling full album of the year. The lead single "Favorite (Vampire)" earned the group its biggest Gaon chart debut at #2. It also reached #8 on US Billboard World Digital Songs, as well as charting in Global 200 and Hot Trending charts. As with Sticker, all three songs on the repackage charted in Korea. The album sold 1.2 million copies.


    On November 3, the group released a digital single "Freeze" in collaboration with the video game Kartrider.


    NCT 127 announced the launch of its second world tour, Neo City: The Link. COVID-related restrictions caused multiple changes and reduced capacity, but the group performed its first live shows in over a year and its first Korean shows in 3. The first show was held on December 17, 2021 in Seoul. Concertgoers had strict restrictions on not being able to cheer or shout. The concert was streamed live as part of Beyond Live for global fans and in movie theaters for domestic ones.



    NCT 127 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. Like previous all-unit albums, each fixed unit has its own song on the album: NCT 127's song was "Earthquake." The members also participated in various NCT U units on songs, as well as the all-member song "Beautiful" on the album.


    IVVIII. 2022: Solo work, first Daesang and 4th album

    In January 2022, NCT 127 won a Bonsang at the Seoul Music Awards and the first Artist Daesang of their career. It was the first time an SM boy group won the award since 2017.


    The COVID Omnicron variant forced the cancellation of the Japanese Neo City legs of the tour. It was announced that members would begin releasing solo projects, in addition to the group's work, through NCT Lab, a digital project.


    The Japanese tour dates were replaced by a sold-out Japanese dome tour with sold-out sets of nights in Tokyo and Osaka and an almost sold-out night in Nagoya. The dates played to 200,000 fans, with the Tokyo Dome show live-streamed on Beyond Live and Japanese TV.


    Additional tour dates were scheduled for Singapore, Manila and the United States.


    NCT 127 performed at the SMTOWN concerts in Seoul and Tokyo, where NCT members played a large part and all sub-units and the full NCT group participating. The group also began a CF with Puma.


    The group released its fourth album, 질주 (2 Baddies) on Sept. 16, 2022. 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. The album was also supported with a live showcase for 10,000 fans in Seoul. Despite production errors and delays, the album broke SM's sales record by selling more albums in its first week than any album in SM history with 1,547,595 copies. At the time, it was #7 in all-time Hanteo sales and placed them third for best-selling artists of all time in first week sales. It debuted at #2 on the Hanteo, Circle and United World charts and #3 on the U.S. Billboard charts, making them only the second kpop group in history to land three albums in Billboard's top 5. The album went on to sell over 2 million copies and make them only the second kpop group in history to have 3 different albums chart on the Billboard 200 for 6 weeks each.


    The album was also launched ahead of sold-out tour dates in the U.S. where the group debuted "2 Baddies" and the b-side "Faster" for the first time live, as well as performing Neo Zone songs for the first time to American audiences. The group returned to Korea and became one of the few kpop groups to play Jamsil Olympic Stadium, following its fellow sub-unit NCT Dream a month prior. The group's special concerts, Neo City: The Link+, featured new unreleased songs and sub-units, as well as the first performances of many 2 Baddies b-sides like "Designer" and "Tasty." 127 also released a special MV of its live performance of "Gold Dust" at Jamsil, as a thank you to fans. Fans in Jamsil filled the venue with golden lights for the song as a fan project.


    The group also appeared on the show, Killing Voice, singing a live medley of their songs and garnering attention for their vocals.


    IVIX. 2022: Repackage, documentary and 5th album

    The Neo City: The Link tour continued throughout Asia, before returning for legs in the U.S., Brazil, Chile and Colombia, giving the country its first kpop concert. It completed in January 2023 in Mexico before the group returned to Korea and released the 2 Baddies repackage, Ay-Yo, on January 30, 2023. As part of the album's release, two track videos were released: the previously released bside "1, 2, 7 (Time Stops)" as a prerelease gift to fans for 127 Day on Jan. 27 and the new bside "DJ". DJ was the bside performed on music shows. Promotions also included a mini web-series To Us, where members sent each other emotional video letters. Ay-Yo debuted with NCT 127's highest first day sales for a repackage (third in their overall) and topped the Circle charts. It also debuted at #2 on the Worldwide iTunes Album chart, topping the charts in 12 regions. It also ranked #1 on the Chinese QQ Music charts. It has sold over 1.1M copies and was certified as a million seller.


    The group featured in its own documentary aired globally on Disney+ and Hulu, NCT 127: The Lost Boys, that traced the members' childhoods and careers.


    During preparations for the group's fifth album, Taeil was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and started a medical hiatus.


    In August-September, NCT 127 participated in the NCT Nation concerts, a series of concerts that featured all the NCT units in a 5-hour concert with over 40 songs. Members appeared in the rotational NCT U units during the show, as well as with the entire group in stages and with their own songs as NCT 127.


    The group's fifth album, Fact Check, was announced for an Oct. 6 release. Taeil appears on songs and some promotional material recorded before his injury. For the album trailers, an animated vignette represented Taeil.

    V. Discography


    VI. Singles

    VII. Videography


    VIII. Awards

    IX. Concept Photos

    X. Trivia

    - The first Kpop artist to be invited as Apple Music's "New Artist of the Week."

    - First Korean artist to perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    - First Kpop group to perform at MTV European Music Awards.

    - 127 was the third Korean act to appear on "Good Morning America," after Blackpink earlier in the same year and BTS the prior year.

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


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    - NCT 127 has a sponsorship deal with Nature Republic and Puma.

    - NCT 127 has partnered with Coca-Cola, Samsung and Kartrider on promotional tie-ins.

    - It was announced members of the group would serve as mentors on NCT Hollywood TV show.

    - NCT 127 set a personal pre-order record with SM-reported first day preorders of 2.2 million copies.

    - NCT 127 became the fourth highest selling first-day artist on Hanteo and the sixth highest selling first-day album.

    - NCT 127 became only the fourth K-pop artist to debut in the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard 200 album charts, making Mark and Taeyong the first artists to do this in more than 1 group.

    - NCT 127's album Sticker became the highest selling SM Entertainment album in the company's history at the time.

    - NCT 127 became the third kpop group to sell over 2 million copies of a single album.

    - NCT 127 became the first idol group to appear as guests on Saturday Night Live Korea, performing in skits on the show that went viral. It was also their first live performance in front of an audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

    - NCT 127's Sticker became the longest-charting kpop album on the Billboard 200 charts in 2021 and only the third kpop artist to chart that long. (17 weeks as of January 24, 2022).

    - NCT 127 won their first Daesang (Grand Prize) in January 2022.

    - NCT 127 became the second Kpop artist in history to land 3 albums in the top five of the US Billboard 200. (in 2022).

    - 2 Baddies became the highest first week seller in SM history.

    - They also became the second Kpop artist in history to have three different albums chart for 6 weeks each: Neo Zone charted for 10 non-consecutive weeks, Sticker for 17 consecutive weeks and 2 Baddies for 7 non-consecutive weeks as of Dec. 18, 2022.

    - NCT 127 sold out the Tokyo Dome over multiple nights during a sold-out dome tour of Japan.

    - In January 2023, NCT 127 became the first kpop group to play a show in Colombia.

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