Sungchan

Sungchan is the main rapper of SM Entertainment’s boy group RIIZE, instantly recognizable for his old-school hip-hop delivery, towering height, and playful, easygoing personality. Like bandmate Shotaro, Sungchan’s idol career actually began years before RIIZE existed — with SM’s flagship group NCT.

Born Jung Sung-chan on September 13, 2001, in Seoul, South Korea, Sungchan grew up playing soccer, starring as a striker on his school team through Eonbuk Middle School. He was street-cast by SM Entertainment and, though initially unsure, decided to pursue the opportunity after being approached a second time. He enrolled in a dance academy to prepare for his audition, joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2016, and trained for about four years before his big break.

That break came on September 23, 2020, when Sungchan was introduced as a new member of NCT alongside Shotaro, officially debuting on October 12 with “NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1.” His profile grew quickly — by March 2021 he had become an MC on SBS’s long-running music program Inkigayo, sharing hosting duties with IVE’s Yujin and Treasure’s Jihoon. He also co-hosted “Welcome to NCT Universe” with Shotaro, mentoring the SM Rookies trainees who would later become his own RIIZE bandmates.

In May 2023, SM Entertainment announced that Sungchan and Shotaro would leave NCT to help launch a brand-new boy group. That group was RIIZE, which debuted on September 4, 2023, with “Get A Guitar.” As RIIZE’s main rapper, Sungchan is known for his clear diction, old-school hip-hop tone, and surprisingly stable vocals — a rare combination that has made him one of the group’s most versatile performers. At 186 cm, he’s also RIIZE’s tallest member, often described as having model-like proportions and deer-like eyes.

Off stage, Sungchan is famous within BRIIZE for his laid-back, slightly clumsy “4D” personality — he’s the type to spill food or forget small things, but always with a smile. He’s left-handed, holds a black belt in taekwondo, and lists gaming, raising pets, soccer, and writing rap lyrics among his hobbies. He’s also built a modeling résumé alongside his music career, fronting campaigns for skincare brand Dr. G and fashion label SPAO, and appearing in magazine pictorials for Allure Korea and Numéro Tokyo. From his early days as a street-cast trainee to RIIZE’s chart-topping “ODYSSEY” era, Sungchan’s journey reflects the same steady confidence that defines his sound on the mic.