NCT Dream 

(Korean: 엔시티 드림) is the third sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT, formed
by SM Entertainment in 2016 as the then teen-aged unit of NCT, later evolving away from their
youthful image and being re-branded in 2020 when all the members finally became legal adults in
Korea. The group debuted on August 25, 2016 with the single "Chewing Gum", with a lineup
consisting of seven members: Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung, with an
average age of 15.6 years old. NCT Dream has been internationally recognised as among the most
notable teen-aged artists of their time, known for music reflecting the growth of the youth. The
narrative of their title tracks have conveyed thoughts following different stages of adolescent
development, with transition from innocence to rebellion and growth.[3] So far, NCT Dream have
released four extended plays, six singles, one studio album, and headlined one international tour in
Asia. Commercial success of their 2019 EP release We Boom turned NCT Dream into one of the top
10 best physical sellers of South Korea in 2019 and earned them Bonsang Awards at the 34th
Golden Disc Awards and 2020 Seoul Music Awards.[4][5][6]
Although NCT Dream was initially formed to follow an age-based admission-graduation system, in
which members would move on from the unit after reaching the Korean age of 20 (19
internationally), in 2020 SM Entertainment announced the admission-graduation system was to be
removed, with previously graduated member Mark set to return, and NCT Dream continuing future
activities as a flexible-style group with all seven original members. The announcement was followed
by over half a million copies pre-ordered for their fourth Korean EP, titled Reload, which was
released in April 2020 to mark the shift in their concept.[7][8]
NCT Dream is the first and only Asian artist to have appeared three times consecutively
on Billboard's "21 Under 21" list, in 2018, 2019 and 2020, at 20, 13 and 19 respectively, chosen for
their industry impact on sales, streaming and social media.[9][10] In 2018, NCT Dream were included
in Time's list of "25 Most Influential Teens" of the year, highlighting their connection as teenagers to
teenagers.[3]

Contents

 1History

o 1.1Pre-debut: SM Rookies

o 1.22016–2017: Debut, first music show win with The First, and  We Young

o 1.32018: NCT 2018: Empathy, We Go Up, and Mark's graduation

o 1.42019: International collaborations, rise to prominence with We Boom and first

Asia tour

o 1.52020: The Dream, Reload, reorganization and NCT 2020

o 1.62021:  Hot Sauce and  Hello Future

 2Members

 3Discography

 4Awards and nominations

 5Shows and concerts

 o 5.1Headlining

o 5.2Joint tours

 6References

History[edit]
Pre-debut: SM Rookies[edit]
Prior to debut, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, and Jisung were previously a part of SM Rookies, the
pre-debut training team created by SM Entertainment. Chenle previously had a solo career as a
child singer, had released three albums and headlined one solo concert in China, before coming to
South Korea at age 14 to debut with NCT Dream.[11]
NCT was first announced in January 2016 by Lee Soo-man at a presentation, where he talked about
a group that would debut different teams around the world.[12] Mark and Haechan are two members
who had previously debuted in other sub-units of NCT. Mark debuted in the group's first unit, NCT U,
on April 4, 2016.[13] On July 7, Haechan made his debut in the second unit, NCT 127, alongside Mark.
[14]
 These two members, together with five new members, Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung,
made their debut under the unit NCT Dream which was announced as the third sub-unit of NCT on
August 18, 2016.[15]

2016–2017: Debut, first music show win with The First, and We

Young[edit]
NCT Dream released their debut single "Chewing Gum" on August 24, 2016. Their debut stage was
on August 25 on M Countdown.[16] The song was peaked at number two on the World Digital Songs
sales chart and at 23 on the Spotify Viral 50 chart on its release.[17] The Korean and Mandarin version
of the song would later be included in NCT Dream first single album.
On February 1, 2017, SM Entertainment announced NCT Dream would release their first single
album. It was revealed Jaemin would not be participating in the release in order to have time
recovering from an injury to his herniated disc.[18] The group's single album The First was released on
February 9 with its lead single "My First and Last".[17] The album debuted at number one on the Gaon
Album Chart.[19] The unit had their comeback stage on M Countdown, performing the title track "My
First and Last" and the B-side track "Dunk Shot".[20] On February 14, NCT Dream won first place on
the hundredth episode of The Show, marking the first music show win for an NCT unit.[21]
In the same month, NCT Dream was appointed as official ambassadors for the 2017 FIFA U-20
World Cup which was hosted in South Korea in the summer of 2017. On March 15, NCT Dream
released the official song for the U-20 World Cup tournament, titled "Trigger the Fever", and went on
to perform the song at different promotional events and at the opening ceremony of the U-20 World
Cup.[22][23]
NCT Dream released their first EP, We Young, on August 17, 2017.[24] The group's first comeback
stage was held on M Countdown.[25] We Young peaked at number three on the Billboard World
Albums chart in September.[26]
NCT Dream released their Christmas single "Joy" as part of SM Station on December 15, 2017.[26]

2018: NCT 2018: Empathy, We Go Up, and Mark's graduation[edit]

NCT Dream promoted alongside NCT U and NCT 127 as NCT 2018 for the first quarter of 2018. On
March 4, 2018, NCT Dream released their single "Go" which was included in NCT's first album NCT
2018 Empathy.[27] The song marked a transition in NCT Dream's narrative, from the portrayal of
innocence to a "more defiant attitude" of teenagers.[27] It also marked the group's first comeback with
Jaemin since their debut.
SM Entertainment announced in late August that NCT Dream would be releasing an EP titled We
Go Up in September.[28] On August 27, it was announced that the album would be the last comeback
before Mark would graduate from the group in 2019 when he would turn 19, the age of adulthood in
South Korea.[29] The EP was released on September 3, 2018 alongside the lead single of the same
name.[30] We Go Up entered Billboard's World Albums chart at number five and Heatseekers Albums
chart at number seven, which marks NCT Dream's then best sales week in the U.S.[31] The album
also topped iTunes Albums charts in 15 countries.[3]
NCT Dream was featured on the "21 Under 21 2018: Music's Next Generation" list by Billboard as
the only Asian artist for the year.[9] All members were listed on Time's 25 Most Influential Teens of
2018 list.[3]
On December 19, it was announced Haechan would be taking a hiatus from the group due to an
injury, but he returned soon afterwards.[32] On December 27, NCT Dream released their third single of
the year titled "Candle Light" for SM Station.[33][34] The song was a message of gratitude and love, with
lyrics written by Mark, and was set to be the last song featuring the original seven members of the
group before Mark officially graduated from the unit on December 31.[35]