Ryo

Ryo of NCT WISH: The Sunny, Sub-Vocalist Puppy of K-Pop’s Newest Generation

Ryo, born Hirose Ryo, is a Japanese idol and sub-vocalist of the boy group NCT WISH, the sixth and final sub-unit of SM Entertainment’s NCT franchise. If you’re a fan of bright, feel-good K-pop with a J-pop twist, Ryo is exactly the kind of member who makes NCT WISH’s stages feel warm and inviting. Let’s walk through who he is, how he got here, and what makes him such a beloved part of the group.

From Kyoto to the NCT Universe: LASTART Stage

Ryo was born on August 4, 2007, in Kyoto, Japan. He grew up with his parents and an older sister, and like a lot of Japanese trainees who dream of debuting in Korea, his path to K-pop started with a concert. He was scouted by SM Entertainment after attending an NCT 127 concert, a moment that reportedly reshaped his whole outlook on becoming an idol. After roughly a year of training, he joined the cast of NCT Universe: LASTART, SM’s 2023 survival show built to select the members of what would eventually become NCT WISH. He placed 5th in the show’s final ranking, securing his spot in the group’s official lineup.

Debuting with NCT WISH

Ryo officially debuted as part of NCT WISH on February 21, 2024, when the group performed their first single “Wish” at SMTOWN Live in Tokyo. Since then, he’s promoted through every NCT WISH era, from “Songbird” and “Steady” to “Poppop,” “Color,” and “Wishlist,” while also taking part in the group’s sold-out fan meetings and concert tours across Asia. As the group’s sub-vocalist, Ryo isn’t usually the one carrying the loudest note in a chorus, but his clear, bright tone rounds out NCT WISH’s harmonies and gives their live stages an extra layer of warmth.

Personality, Charm, and the “Puppy” Image

Ask any NCTzen and they’ll tell you: Ryo has serious “puppy energy.” His members have nicknamed him things like “Maltese” and “Jakdaeng” (a playful mash-up meaning “small doggy”), and it’s easy to see why once you watch him interact with the group. He describes his own personality as active and happy, and he’s known for lightening the mood behind the scenes. Visually, his round eyes and soft, youthful features have led fans (and even the members themselves) to compare him to NCT DREAM’s Renjun. Off stage, Ryo enjoys watching movies and drawing, and he’s mentioned that if he weren’t a singer, he’d want to be an astronaut, or maybe live somewhere quiet near the sea.

Why Fans Are Drawn to Ryo

What makes Ryo stand out isn’t flashy soloist energy. It’s consistency, warmth, and the sense that he genuinely loves being part of NCT WISH. He’s talked about being inspired to become an idol after watching NCT’s Doyoung, and that same admiration for his seniors seems to fuel how he approaches his own role in the group today. For fans looking for the member who feels like a comforting, familiar presence at every comeback, Ryo of NCT WISH fits the bill perfectly.