NCT’s system, amazing performances, and addicting music have allowed the group to gain an immense amount of fans. Unlike other K-pop acts that create subunits as a way to promote certain members (such as Triple H and EXO CBX), NCT has established 3 different groups, all with possible member changes. The way it works is that all members are considered NCT members, and will debut under an NCT group. NCT as a whole has more than just Korean members – it has many Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai and Japanese members, with one member being Korean American and another being Korean Canadian. Currently NCT as a whole consists of Mark, Taeyong, Ten, Jungwoo, Winwin, Jisung, Jaemin, Jeno, Johnny, Jaehyun, Doyoung, Taeil, Lucas, Yuta, Renjun, Chenle, Haechan and Kun. To categorise NCT under one concept would be difficult, considering all three groups are completely different from each other. NCT was created in such a way that there could be an endless number of groups under the NCT name with hundreds of members and it would still feel as if all the groups were their own separate entities. Every NCT group releases an album.

NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, have three groups as of now: NCT U, NCT Dream, and NCT 127. NCT U is unique in the sense that every member is a part of NCT U. If they fit the concept, they will be a part of the music release. When deciding the next concept for NCT U, SM Entertainment (The company that owns NCT) will decide which members are a fit for the comeback in terms of visuals and talent. For example, NCT U’s debut, “7th Sense,” consisted of Ten, Taeyong, Doyoung, Taeil, Jaehyun, and Mark. Their second comeback, “Boss,” consisted of three additional members, Lucas, Jungwoo, and Winwin with Ten and Taeil not being involved with the comeback. For their third comeback, “Baby Don’t Stop,” only Ten and Taeyong participated in the comeback. Even though any NCT member could release music under NCT U at on point in their career, not every NCT member has been a part of an NCT U comeback yet.

Image Credit @Mica(left to right) Mark, Taeyong, Ten, Jaehyun, Doyoung and Taeil.

Image Credit @NCTsmtown(left to right) Doyoung, Mark, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Lucas, Jungwoo and Winwin.

NCT Dream only allows members 18 and younger. None of the older members could join NCT Dream as they would not fit the youthful concept of the group. All the members: Jeno, Jisung, Mark, Jaemin, Chenle, Renjun, and Haechan, have participated in all five of their comebacks- “Chewing Gum,” “My First And Last,” “We Young,” “Go” and “We Go Up”. Mark recently turned 20 in Korean years, making “We Go Up” his last comeback as an NCT Dream member.

Image Credit:LJ-TOP(left to right) Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Jisung, Jaemin, Chenle and Haechan.

NCT 127’s name comes from the longitude coordinate of South Korea’s capital, Seoul. 127 debuted with Haechan, Mark, Jaehyun, Taeil, Taeyong, Winwin, and Yuta for their “Fire Truck” comeback. Their second comeback, “Limitless” included two additional members, Doyoung and Johnny. The group recently came back with their title track “Regular” in English with the Korean version being released along with the album on Friday, October 12, 2018. NCT 127 has also guest starred on Jimmy Kimmel recently, making them the second Korean act to be on the show with performances of  “Regular,” “Cherry Bomb,” and “Limitless”. Apple Music has picked NCT 127 has the ‘Up Next’ artist making them the first Korean act to be featured. On Tuesday October 9, 2018, NCT 127 became the second Korean act to walk the AMA’s red carpet.

Image Credit:Billboard

NCT is making history as a group that has successfully created a system that is unique in the K-pop genre. Their amazing dance performances, vocals, rap, and songwriting makes them a memorable group that deserves to succeed globally. NCT deserves the praise and admiration for being a group that is beyond experimental and interesting, and it continues to push for different concepts every comeback. There is always room for Asian representation in the Western media, and with the introduction of NCT 127 to the West, it can only mean bigger and greater things for K-Pop as a whole. To support NCT, stream their music on Spotify and watch their most recent comeback below!

Featured Image Via SBS

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