Taeyong

Taeyong is the leader of NCT and a member of the NCT U and NCT 127 units, as well as the supergroup SuperM. He is a rapper, dancer, center and songwriter at SM Entertainment, and he came up through the SMROOKIES trainee team before debuting in 2016. After a solo single in 2019 and a full solo debut in 2023, he served in the Navy from April 2024 to December 2025. His first full album, led by the title track "WYLD", brought his first solo music show win in May 2026.

Where they grew up

Taeyong grew up in Seoul, and one profile lists him as having an older sister. He has said she was the spark for his interest in music, passing along an MP3 player loaded with her favorite pop songs, including artists like Justin Timberlake. Before that he had little interest in music. In 2012, during his second year of high school, casting staff approached him in Seoul. He first turned them down, thinking they were from the national broadcasters, until the scout bought him toast and he agreed to audition. He found his way to the SM building, sang and danced, and entered the trainee program. Early on his dance skills were weak, and an instructor reportedly doubted he would make it on stage, but he improved enough in about a year and a half to be known as one of the best dancers among the trainees.

Birth details: nolae.eu