"We sincerely thank the Sijeuni (fandom name) for your love throughout the year!" (Riku)
NCT WISH shared their sentiments on their first anniversary of debut on the 21st. They took their first step into the music world last year at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, conveying their ambition to support everyone's wishes and dreams through music and love.
NCT WISH began their journey with their first single, 'WISH'. They subsequently released the single 'Songbird' and their first mini-album 'Steady', culminating in their Japanese studio album 'WISHFUL'.
Notably, 'Steady' surpassed 800,000 in both pre-orders and album sales. This set the highest record for a debut artist in 2024.
NCT WISH boasts hopeful music and energetic performances. They have effectively ingrained their unique 'fresh & neo' identity into the hearts of fans worldwide.
The main message they want to convey is gratitude towards their fans, Sijeuni. Jaehui expresses, "Thanks to Sijeuni who always support us, we gain strength." Riku promises, "I will become someone who can return that love just as it is."
Meanwhile, NCT WISH is presenting anniversary content for their first debut anniversary. They have prepared the 'Our 1st WISH' event, promising various fan services ranging from self-produced content to special live performances.
<Here is the full Q&A with NCT WISH>
Q1. You’ve reached your first anniversary of debuting. How do you feel?
Sion: Building on last year's experiences, I look forward to engaging in activities more enjoyably and sharing better music this year.
Yushi: I’m overjoyed and happy to reach our first anniversary. I'm also excited about the new things we'll create with the members and Sijeuni.
Sakuya: 2024 was a year filled with learning, joy, and happiness. Based on that experience, I think we can showcase an even more amazing side this year!
Q2. What activity or moment stands out to you the most since your debut?
Sakuya: The activities for 'WISH' on music broadcasts stand out to me. Since it was our first such appearance, everything felt new and exciting.
Q3. As a team or individually, in what aspect do you feel you've grown the most over the past year?
Riku: Having run together with shared dreams and goals, our team has become more cohesive. I look forward to growing into an even more impressive team with the members this year.
Jaehui: I feel satisfaction seeing how I've grown, especially noticing how quickly I can embrace directing during recordings.
Q4. You're building a unique team identity. What's your secret?
Jaehui: I believe we shine when members, each with their own personality, come together as one. Above all, we try to showcase our natural selves, both on stage and in daily life.
Q5. You have effectively utilized shorts and challenges, gaining significant attention. What's your secret to planning and enjoying such vibrant content?
Yushi: We watch various videos and share ideas on content we’d like to try. Since we genuinely enjoy the moments we film, that energy naturally gets captured in the videos.
Sakuya: Instead of feeling pressured to do well, I try to enjoy the filming comfortably. It seems this allows our natural vibe to seep through.
Q6. In 2024, you earned the title of 'Best New Artist'. What other goals do NCT WISH have for 2025?
Sion: This year, we hope to present more songs filled with our unique color to more people with high-quality music and activities.
Riku: In 2025, I wish to continue receiving even more love through good music and activities. Above all, I want to create many happy moments with the members.
Ryo: My biggest goal for this year is to further hone my skills to present the best stage for Sijeuni and produce a performance we won’t regret when it’s over.
Q7. Please share a message for Sijeuni, who continue to send unwavering love and support.
Sion: We’ll come back with an album and stage that capture NCT WISH's sentiment and have grown even more this year, so please look forward to it.
Riku: Thanks to the love from Sijeuni, we always gain a lot of strength. I will become a person who can return that love just as it is.
Yushi: Thank you sincerely for watching over us and supporting us over the past year! We’ll repay you with even greater appearances moving forward.
Jaehui: Thanks to Sijeuni, I appreciate every day even more. Let’s keep making every moment with Sijeuni happy moving forward, fighting!!
<Photo courtesy of SM Entertainment>
