Haechan of NCT and NCT 127: a talented and confident performer, with the personality to match
- As a youngster Haechan was inspired by Michael Jackson and SM boy band Shinee to become a singer and aim for K-pop stardom
- He takes on different roles in NCT and NCT 127, and says confidence is the key to his success as an artist – on and off the stage
Haechan may be a relatively new arrival on the K-pop scene, but the singer has already made an impact thanks to constant activity and striking personality.
From his multiple roles in different NCT line-ups to his wild, but gentle persona, here’s a look at the multifaceted world of Haechan.
His early life
Lee Dong-hyuck was born in the South Korean capital, Seoul, in June 2000. The eldest of four children, the future star lived on popular Korean holiday destination Jeju Island for part of his childhood, before returning to Seoul to enrol in the Seoul School for Performing Arts and, with encouragement from his mother, audition for K-pop label SM Entertainment.
Surrounding himself with music in school and in his free time, a young Haechun was inspired to become a singer by Michael Jackson and SM boy band Shinee.
In training, a young Dong-hyuck became close with future band mate Mark Lee, and the two would duet on pop and K-pop songs together.
SM founder Lee Sooman gave Dong-hyuck the stage name “Haechan” – which means to “shine bright uprightly” in Korean.
