The final NCT Universe LASTART members were announced in September upon the SM Entertainment’s survival show’s conclusion, but in a new twist, the latest update surrounding the NCT New Team debut may be a disheartening news for the fans. On October 2 (KST), the Korean entertainment agency released an official notice about one of its members cutting his ties with the upcoming formation of the new sub-unit of the grand roster for NCT. This closure/news comes a week ahead of the group’s pre-debut tour schedule.
NCT New Team Jungmin won’t be going ahead with the plans for the group’s debut that were set to commence with the members’ pre-debut tour, starting October 8, 2023. The agency’s new statement revealed that he halted his activities with the unit due to health reasons. Although he’d been focussing on his treatment for all this while, the golden opportunity seems to have fallen through for him and though he was one of the most stellar NCT LASTART trainees, he’s decided not to debut with the “New Team” (working title) to prioritise his health.
Previously also know as the Tokyo sub-unit of NCT, the NCT Tokyo debut will now be moving forward with six instead of seven members. SM had constantly been in contact with Jungmin’s family, medical staff and him, but for now, with his health being his top priority, the agency has confirmed that the member will later return to his old trainee roots and restart his new activities in good health.
NCT Universe: LASTART highlights NCT’s “last start”, as the sub-unit debuting through this show will reportedly mark the last sub-unit beginnings for the grand group that already consists of fixed units like NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung and its rotational unit NCT U. As per the SM 3.0 update, NCT Tokyo was to debut as NCT’s last subunit, thus cutting short the “limitless expansion” of the group. Recently, former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan also made their exit from the group to debut as the new SM Entertainment boy group RIIZE’s members, which also includes Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee, and Anton.
Check Out SM’s Latest Update for the NCT New Team Debut
Final Lineup of NCT Universe LASTART Members
SM Rookies Sion and Yushi had already been confirmed as the first two members of the new sub-unit even before the NCT Universe LASTART premiere. The remaining members Riku, Daeyoung, Ryo, Sakuya and Jungmin had been finalised through the survival competition series. However, now only Sion, Yushi, Riku, Daeyoung, Ryo and Sakuya will debut as part of the team.
In another news, NCT 127, the Seoul-based sub-unit of the group, will be making a comeback on October 6, 2023, at 1 PM KST with its 5th full album Fact Check.
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