Jaehee

Jaehee (재희), born Kim Dae-young (김대영), is a South Korean singer and the main vocalist of NCT WISH, SM Entertainment’s Japan-based sub-unit of NCT. Born in Daegu, South Korea, on June 21, 2005, Jaehee had one of the shortest trainee periods of the group — just three months — before joining the label’s pre-debut line-up.

Jaehee was scouted by SM Entertainment in January 2023 after his talent was spotted through a recorded performance. His decision to pursue an idol career was reportedly sparked years earlier, when NCT 127’s “AY-YO” was released while he was training and he was captivated by member Jaehyun’s presence in the music video.

He competed on the 2023 survival show NCT Universe: LASTART under his birth name Kim Dae-young, impressing judges with his powerful high notes and falsetto despite his limited training time. He placed 3rd in the final mission, securing his spot in the group that would become NCT WISH.

Since debuting on February 21, 2024, with the single “WISH,” Jaehee has anchored the group’s vocal line through releases including “Steady,” “Wishful,” “Poppop,” and “Color.” Known to NCTzen by his nickname “Daeng” (meaning puppy), Jaehee has continued to grow as both a vocalist and performer, with reviewers highlighting his high-tone control and increasingly confident rap and dance skills.