2019–2023: Plans, formation and NCT New Team

Prior to the group's debut, Yushi was first introduced as a member of Japanese boy group Edamame Beans at the age of 11 but shortly left the group before debut in the same year. Yushi first auditioned for SM Entertainment in his fourth grade of elementary school and was accepted as a trainee in his 6th grade of elementary school. He later came to Korea in his 6th grade of elementary school and trained for about 7 years prior joining the survival show. Riku had filmed a visual advertisement for his cousin’s own cosmetics brand Aimmx with his cousin Ai Takahashi in October 2021.^[8] Riku was cast through the 2022 SM Global Audition and was a trainee for about 1 years prior joining the survival show.^[9] Sion was cast through Instagram's direct messaging and trained for 4 years prior joining the survival show.^[10] In 2022, Ryo was first scouted by SM Entertainment while he was watching NCT 127's concert.^[11] In January 2023, Jaehee was scouted by SM Entertainment.^[12]

In January 2016, SM Entertainment founder and producer Lee Soo-man announced plans for a new boy group NCT with different units to be based in cities around the world.^[13] On June 20, 2019, SM producer Chris Lee announced in a presentation that NCT would continue to debut international units, mentioning that the company was in the process of creating a Japanese one. This was re-iterated in an interview with Billboard the following day, where the unit's activities were confirmed to be managed between Avex Trax and SM Japan.^[1]

On December 1, 2022, SM confirmed plans for a Japanese subunit based in Tokyo following the opening of their Southeast Asian branch.^[14][15] As part of their 2023 strategy, the company revealed that the next NCT subunit, tentatively named "NCT Tokyo", would be debuting in the third quarter of the year.^[16][17] On February 24, SM announced that NCT Tokyo would the group's final subunit.^[18][19]

On May 23, 2023, SM announced that two future SM Rookies would be part of the new unit's lineup, with the remaining members selected via a pre-debut survival show.^[20] The rookies were revealed to be Yushi and Sion on June 28;^[21] two days later, SM confirmed that the survival show NCT Universe: Lastart would begin airing on July 27.^[22] The official lineup of the group, now referred to as "NCT New Team", was unveiled during the final episode: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jungmin, Daeyoung, Ryo, Sakuya.^[23] The group served as the opening for the rest of NCT at their Japanese NCT Nation: To The World concerts at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka from September 9 to 10 and again at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo from September 16 to 17.^[24] The new NCT unit later embarked on a pre-debut tour beginning on October 8, which consisted of 28 performances across 10 cities in Japan.^[25]

On October 2, 2023, SM announced that Jungmin, who had been absent from previous performances, would be departing NCT for health reasons.^[26] The unit released their pre-debut single "Hands Up" on October 8, with their official debut confirmed for 2024.^[27]

2024–present: Debut

On January 17, 2024, SM Entertainment released a teaser titled "NCT Wish: Wish for Our Wish" and confirmed that NCT New Team would be debuting under the name NCT Wish scheduled in February.^[28] The group made their debut on February 28 with the release of the single album Wish, along with both the Japanese and Korean version of the lead single of the same name.^[29][30] They took their first music show win on The Show, 21 days after they debuted.^[31]

On February 21, 2024, NCT Wish performed their debut single "Wish" for the first time at SMTOWN Live 2024 SMCU Palace at Tokyo.^[32][33]

Single albums

Singles

Concert participation

• NCT Universe: Lastart Pre-Debut Tour (2023)^[45]

As opening act

• NCT Nation: To the World (2023)^[46]