Attention, NCTzens! SM Entertainment’s survival show NCT Universe: LASTART aired its final episode on Wednesday, September 6, revealing the seven members who will officially debut as NCT’s last unit .
In NCT Universe: LASTART, a total of 11 trainees underwent four rounds of missions showcasing their potential as K-pop idols. Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and soloist Boa served as art directors and mentors in the show.
Additionally, the contestants were also trained by numerous talented SM artists, including NCT members themselves. In episodes six and seven, Johnny and Haechan appeared as special artist directors. Aside from them, NCT members Taeyong and Ten also appeared as mentors in the earlier episodes of the show.
LASTART💫 현장스틸컷📸
Ep.6 Scene Stills – Special Artist Director TEN#NCT #TEN #텐#NCTUniverse #LASTART #라스타트 pic.twitter.com/AVJ4VLmZjN— NCT Universe : LASTART (@SM_NCTUniverse) September 4, 2023
#haechan on nct universe: LASTART
his advice 🐻
“thinking of my debut days i could not even think of making such high notes. even if you get it wrong or make mistakes, i think it’s much cooler to shout out like that. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/0xaGOIKQEW
— ً (@LHCFEED) September 7, 2023
During the program’s last episode, Eunhyuk surprised both participants and viewers by revealing that the unit would consist of seven members. Initially, SM Entertainment announced that it will only have six members.
Meet NCT’s last unit
Prior to the show, SMRookies members Sion and Yushi were already confirmed to be the unit’s first two members in June. The two have been fixed participants in all of the missions for the series.
[🏆 RANKINGS] NCT Universe : LASTART | LAST (4TH) MISSION
Debut Lineup: SION, YUSHI, RIKU, SAKUYA, DAEYOUNG, JUNGMIN, and RYO.
TOP 6-11: ANDERSON, RYU, MINJAE, HARUTA, KASSHO, and HEITETSU. #NCTUniverse #NCTUniverse_LASTART #LASTART #라스타트 pic.twitter.com/2HEV4cl8Fw
— nct wish archives (@wisharchives) September 6, 2023
Joining Sion and Yushi are Riku, Sakuya and Daeyoung. They were ranked as the top three members in NCT Universe: LASTART’s final episode. Meanwhile, Jungmin and Ryo are the last two members who will complete the team.
“We’ll do our best to live up to the name of the world’s popular boy group NCT,” the members were quoted as saying.
The final members to debut as @NCTsmtown NEW TEAM are Riku, Sakuya, Daeyoung, Jungmin, Ryo, Sion, and Yushi! "We'll do our best to live up to the name of the world's popular boy group NCT," said the finalists. #NCTUniverse_LASTART pic.twitter.com/PLOFTrFXvh
— KpopHerald (@Kpop_Herald) September 7, 2023
As of writing, SM Entertainment has yet to reveal the debut details of the new NCT unit. However, during the finale episode, it was revealed that the group will hold pre-debut shows and participate in the NCT NATION concerts in Japan.
The new unit, considered to be the last chapter to NCT’s limitless expansion concept, is yet to reveal their final group name. Previously, it was stated that the group would be called NCT Tokyo, although this was not confirmed in the survival show’s last episode.
With this last addition, NCT now has a total of 27 members and six units. These are NCT 127, NCT Dream, Wayv, NCT U, NCT DoJaeJung, and the LASTART group.
Also, it can be recalled that three members left the group in 2023. In May, Lucas officially left NCT and WayV after a two-year hiatus. Meanwhile, Sungchan and Shotaro left NCT to debut under new boy group RIIZE.
Featured image: The seven members of NCT’s final unit pose for a photo. Credit: Twitter/K-pop Herald