Quick starter guide on everything you need to know about NCT Dream

Did you know that NCT Dream was the last K-pop act to perform in the country before we closed our borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

And now after three years of waiting, NCT Dream will embark on its second solo concert in the country!

This time, they will perform in a bigger venue in front of thousands of spectators as concert promoter PULP Live World treats Filipino NCTzens to a sold-out two-day show at the Mall of Asia Arena on April 29-30. 

Here is a quick starter guide on everything you need to know about NCT Dream.

Who is NCT Dream?

NCT Dream is the third sub-unit of the South Korean boy group NCT, formed by SM Entertainment. The group, well known for their hit songs "Hot Sauce," "Beatbox," and "My First and Last," made their debut in 2016 with the song "Chewing Gum."

Originally launched as the teenage unit of the NCT brand, NCT Dream was designed to appeal to younger people and has an admissions and graduation process that requires members to depart the group once they turn 20. But this rule has been changed since their rebranding in 2020.

Meet the NCT Dream members

NCT Dream is made up of seven members: Mark, who was born and raised in Canada, is the group's leader and main rapper; Renjun, from China, is one of the three main vocalists of the group, along with Chenle and Haechan.

Meanwhile, Jaemin and Jeno, who are known for their breath-taking visuals, are the lead dancers, and Jisung, the maknae (youngest member) of the group, is best known for his strong dancing abilities.

They debuted at the ages of 14-17

Since the group is meant to cater to younger audiences, it's no surprise that the members were only teenagers at the time of their debut.

Mark, the eldest member of the group, was just 17 years old when he debuted with NCT Dream, while Jisung, who was born in 2002, was only 14 years old in their debut song, "Chewing Gum."

They became one of the youngest million-seller K-pop groups

If you think CD albums are no longer a thing in the digital era, think again. It's not the case for K-pop fans who would buy hundreds and even thousands of albums of their ultimate group, and the NCT fandom is no stranger to that.

So it's no wonder that NCT Dream has sold one million copies of their "Hot Sauce" album in 2021. Such a feat made them a million-selling group for the first time, and they are now considered as one of the youngest million-sellers in K-pop history alongside New Jeans and ENHYPEN.

They were TIME Magazine's 25 Most Influential Teen of 2018

Just two years after their debut in 2016, NCT Dream has picked the interest of the general public including TIME Magazine—an American news magazine based in New York.

In 2018, NCT Dream was included in the magazine's, "25 Most Influential Teen of 2018," making them the only K-pop artists to be featured in that year's list.

The publication highlighted the international success of the group's 2018 mini album "We Go Up," which soared at No. 5 on Billboard's World Albums chart and topped iTunes Top Albums charts in 15 different countries.

"The group's title tracks have followed a narrative of the stages of adolescence, transitioning from innocence to rebellion—and growth," Time Magazine said.

Now that you have this quick guide to NCT Dream, it's high time to get to know them more, and listen to their music and who knows you might end up becoming a NCTzen, just like me!

—MGP, GMA Integrated News