Less than a year into their career NCT has more singles, and members, than many veteran K-pop boy bands. The newest boy-band from SM Entertainment, the company that created K-pop greats like Girls’ Generation and SHINee, the conceptual group has gone on to become one of Korea’s most intriguing new acts. Unit NCT 127 released their second EP, Limitless, on Jan. 6, the mega-group’s first new music in the new year. Here are ten things to know about NCT.
1. NCT is less of a band and more of an idea
The group’s name stands for “Neo Culture Technology,” a broad term used by SM Entertainment to describe its innovative approach to localizing K-pop. With different groups aimed at diverse audiences in varying locations, NCT is an act that sees no restrictions regarding size or artistic style. Fittingly, it has no set line-up and already has more than a dozen members.
2. There are three NCT units at the moment
2016 saw three different NCT teams debut, each with a unique subtitle to denote their role in the larger NCT group: NCT U, the first team, released two singles in April. According to SM Entertainment, the U “represents all units of NCT,” which appears to mean that NCT U is the group’s primary unit. NCT 127, which debuted in July, is the Seoul-based team; 127 reflects the cities longitudinal coordinates. The final of the three acts, NCT Dream, released a bright pop single in August, and is made up solely of members under the age of 18.