NCT (group)

NCT
NCT in April 2018
NCT in April 2018
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
Years active2016–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Memberssee Members
WebsiteOfficial website

NCT (Korean: 엔시티; RR: Ensiti; an acronym for Neo Culture Technology)[2] is a South Korean boy band formed and managed by SM Entertainment. Introduced in January 2016, the group consists of 25 members divided into six different sub-units: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung, and NCT Wish.[3] They are known for their versatility in music, vocal and rap abilities, and powerful performances, and have been cited as K-pop's "most experimental boy band" due to their concept of having limitless members.[4] As of June 2024, NCT has recorded more than 40 million album sales in Korea across all sub-units, making them the best-selling act under SM Entertainment and one of the best-selling K-pop artists of all time.[5][6]

The group debuted their first sub-unit, the rotational NCT U, on April 9, 2016, with the double digital single "The 7th Sense" and "Without You". It was followed by the Seoul-based sub-unit NCT 127 on July 7, 2016, with their eponymous extended play and the then-teenaged sub-unit NCT Dream on August 24, 2016, with the digital single "Chewing Gum". WayV, a seven-member sub-unit based in China and NCT's first overseas sub-unit, debuted on January 17, 2019, with the single album The Vision. On April 17, 2023, a new fixed sub-unit featuring members Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Jungwoo debuted as NCT DoJaeJung with the extended play (EP) Perfume.[7] NCT's next overseas unit, NCT Wish, debuted in 2024 as their final overseas subunit.[8]

Although each sub-unit promotes separately, NCT has united four times as a group to record four full-length albums: Empathy (2018), Resonance (2020), Universe (2021), and Golden Age (2023). Within two months of release, Resonance sold over 2.6 million copies across its two parts, becoming the highest-selling physical album released by an act from SM Entertainment at the time and earning the group their first Daesang (Grand Prize) Award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards. Universe, which was released in December 2021, became their most pre-ordered album at 1.7 million copies, and later surpassed 1.8 million sales after its release.

  1. ^ "NCT(エヌシーティー) Website". nct-jp.net. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  2. ^ "NCT 127 '소방차'로 데뷔...그룹 이름의 뜻은?". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). July 5, 2016. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "SM 신인 NCT NEW TEAM 7인 확정, 프리 데뷔 멤버 얼굴 보니". Newsen. September 7, 2023. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Get To Know NCT: Kpop's Most Experimental Boy Group To Date". Arts + Culture. October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  5. ^ "SM Entertainment sells nearly 18 million albums in 2021, led by NCT 127, NCT DREAM, EXO, Baekhyun, and NCT". SM Entertainment sells nearly 18 million albums in 2021, led by NCT 127, NCT DREAM, EXO, Baekhyun, and NCT | Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "SMTOWN 2021 Wrap Up: A Year in Review". SM Global Shop. December 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  7. ^ NCT 도재정, 4월 17일 유닛 데뷔...봄 향기 가득 담은 '퍼퓸'. SPOTVnews (in Korean). March 27, 2023. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Angela Patricia Suacillo (February 3, 2023). "SM Entertainment announces plans to debut four new K-pop acts in 2023". NME. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.