DOYOUNG

Joining the founding members of the wide-ranging South Korean boy group NCT, singer, actor, and idol Doyoung (도영) advanced toward K-pop prominence through commanding vocals steeped in feeling. As a central figure across the sub-units NCT U, NCT 127, and NCT DoJaeJung, he shaped numerous chart-topping group releases throughout the 2010s and 2020s, among them NCT 2020 Resonance and Universe, prior to issuing his first solo project, Youth, in 2024.

Born Kim Dong-young (김동영) in Gyonggi-do, South Korea, the idol trained under SM Entertainment after being scouted at a youth arts festival in his home province. While part of the pre-debut training collective SM ROOKIES, Doyoung gained early notice hosting MBC's Show Champion and received confirmation as an NCT member in 2016. The expansive umbrella project, built around multiple international sub-groupings, launched its initial sub-unit NCT U in April 2016; Doyoung was named among its original lineup and debuted with Ten, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Mark, and Taeil on "The 7th Sense." Demonstrating vocal strength, he was promptly added to NCT 127 and featured on the sub-unit's second mini-album, Limitless (2017). After hosting SBS music program Inkigayo through the rest of 2017, Doyoung returned with the Sejeong duet "Star Blossom" and joined the full NCT 2018 roster that united all 18 members for the first time. Accompanied by promotional videos and the documentary NCTmentary1, the endeavor produced the group's debut studio album, NCT 2018 Empathy. Doyoung's expressive yet flexible vocals placed him on eight of the 14 tracks, helping the set reach number two on the Korean Albums Chart. A comparatively subdued 2019 closed with the Rocoberry collaboration "Don't Say Goodbye," guest spots on King of Mask Singer and Law of the Jungle, and participation in the UNICEF-supported SMTOWN single "This Is Your Day (For Every Child, UNICEF)" alongside labelmates.

Building on NCT 2018's momentum, the collective reunited for NCT 2020 and the album NCT 2020 Resonance. Released in two parts, the project achieved major commercial and critical acclaim, with both Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 simultaneously topping Korea's Gaon and Circle charts while earning Album Bonsang at the 2021 Golden Disc Awards. Doyoung, once more central to the sound, became the sole member featured on both lead singles. He repeated that distinction on the lead tracks "Beautiful" and "Universe [Let's Play Ball]" for the subsequent studio album Universe (2021), which topped Korea's Gaon, Japan's Oricon, and Billboard's U.S. World Albums charts. That year also marked his acting debut in Café Midnight: The Curious Stalker, his first stage role in the musical Marie Antoinette, and the release of the Yumi's Cells soundtrack single "Like a Star." In 2022 he joined the new NCT DoJaeJung sub-unit alongside Jaehyun and Jungwoo; the trio launched with the mini-album Perfume that April. He rejoined the complete NCT lineup in 2023 for the fourth studio album Golden Age, fronted by the anthemic "Baggy Jeans," with both the album and single reaching Korea's Circle and Japan's Oricon charts.

Following eight years of collective achievements, Doyoung launched his solo career with the studio album Youth. Centering his broad and emotive vocals, the expansive ballad collection debuted at number three on Korea's Circle charts.