NCTzens are Ready to Answer NCT 127’s Call: Yes! They Were Missed!
Written by Maggz
| After two years since their last album release, NCT 127 is back with Blingy
“Did you miss us?” lit up on thousands of phones across the world in the evening of Friday, July 24, 2026. Fans quickly took to Twitter, some jump-scared by the text as they hadn’t saved the contact for the fan messaging service SM Entertainment had set up for NCT 127 in 2023. “Thought this was an ex,” some fans tweeted, cold shivers running down their spine at the green bubble popping up out of the blue.
Known for being overstimulating in the best way, neon “neo” green billboards quickly popped up in Seoul, New York City, and Los Angeles, with the same tagline “Did you miss us?” teasing an upcoming release. And miss them, fans did. After a few years of uncertainty of the group’s future; with grueling ten year contracts coming to an end, members completing mandatory military service, and more - to have NCT 127 return with a new album, KCON LA appearance, and tour feel like a miracle. Their last tour “NEO CITY: The Momentum” concluded in May 2025, after having brought the active members of the group to Asia and North America. The set list felt like a fever dream, packed with iconic b-sides like “Skyscraper” and “Far” with members stepping up to cover lines for enlisted members. This was notably also former member Mark Lee’s final tour with the group, despite fans not knowing at the time that he would not renew his contract in April 2026.
Despite said tour, appearances KCON LA, and countless social media posts - fans had to wait until August 2026 for another album, two whole years after Walk. Entering their tenth year as a group, this album brings heavy nostalgic vibes for the members and fans, with the cover resembling the iconic red, black, and white camo pattern on their debut EP NCT #127 which featured the iconic lead single "Fire Truck (소방차).”
Let’s take a look back at NCT 127’s wild ride of promotions for Blingy and how the members are here to prove that they are officially back and not going anywhere.
With a new album on the horizon, SM Entertainment and the members seemed to have their sights set on strong Western market promotion for Blingy. With a third-year-in-a-row return to the KCON LA lineup, an in-person fansign event at KPOP Nara LA, and even an appearance on America’s Got Talent, NCT 127 was everywhere. Their weeks leading up to the album release were filled with plenty of hype for their single “Piñata” that made its global debut at KCON LA and was performed again during their short set on America’s Got Talent. Leader Taeyong’s solo stage on the Saturday of KCON LA guaranteed more NCTzens in the seats of the Crypto.com Arena for the second night of concerts. The NEO CITY : SEOUL - THE REDLINE concert is even being streamed in cinemas around the world the weekend of September 20.
However, in recent interviews and appearances, the members seem to be indicating that THE REDLINE TOUR is not making its way beyond Asia. This comes as a disappointing blow, in particular for fans in North America, where promotion has been so heavy for this album. Perhaps it's all a ruse, meant to throw fans off, but in the past, members of NCT Dream similarly warned fans that The Dream Show 4: Dream the Future wouldn’t be as “global” as previously marketed (and turned out to be sadly true.) SM Entertainment, if you can hear us, maybe reconsider? Please?
Everyone knows a good Studio Choom video can build as much hype for an album as any interview or viral press junket clip. The MOVE TO PERFORMANCE 4K video for title track “Blingy” is no exception. As soon as the opening notes of “Blingy” start, the members appear in a line formation, the camera work and ripple choreography creating a memorable introduction that has already been recreated in numerous TikToks. Each of the members get their moment of eye contact with the camera, drawing viewers in and capturing their attention for the high quality performance. If you haven’t had a chance to watch any of the “Blingy” performances yet, this is a great place to start to really convey the edgy and mature vibe of this album.
Never a dull moment in Ncity, fans were excited to hear initial counts of the number of album pre-sales and first day sales to be the highest in the history of the group. However, the next day, a correction was made stating that the numbers had been misreported initially. Album sales and streaming numbers are major factors in the perceived success of an album, especially when it comes to the Hanteo and Circle Chart rankings. All the drama was worth it in the end, with NCT 127 taking home their first win for Blingy at Music Core on September 5.
Haechan finally made his long-waited appearance on Lee Mujin Service after fans begged for years for him to appear on the program. Known for featuring the most talented vocalists in the K-pop industry, it was only a matter of time before one of the main vocalists of NCT 127 appeared on the show. He joins the legacy of NCT members who have prepared iconic tracks and chatted with Lee Mujin; Xiaojun, Doyoung, Chenle, and Jaehyun have all had their own episodes. Haechan opened with a stripped back solo version of “127 Million Miles,” arguably the only ballad-esque track on the album. He shared that the song is a gift for the fans, especially since Doyoung and Jungwoo both recorded the track prior to enlisting. He also performed a perfect acoustic cover of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” and spoke at length about how the artist inspired him to pursue a career in music.
As the members are in (or rapidly approaching) their 30s and have a solid ten years of experience working together under their belt, they are more than experienced in the art of the interview. Countless press conferences in front of the Korean media, red carpet interview moments clipped for virality, and even the more chaotic variety show segments all build to create a perfect balance of practiced answers, monitoring non-verbal cues from off-camera staff, and bouncing off the energy of the interviewer. During Blingy promotions, there is a shift in tone and how NCT 127 reacts to questions. They haven’t shied away from questions about their contract negotiations, how they manage disagreements with their production team when preparing for an album, and what it means to them to be part of this group seven full length albums later. The active members continue to mention Doyoung and Jungwoo and thank them for their contributions to the album. They have corrected interviewers who have misspoke when asking about members no longer in the group.
They appear fearless, Haechan joking repeatedly with a staff member who once made the mistake of saying “I love my job” during a particularly mischievous maknae moment. Since then, the members have been repeating the phrase in content and behind the scenes - a true moment of breaking that fourth wall with fans where they acknowledge that this is, in fact, a job for them too. This moment of pushing down the veil of parasocialism (even if temporarily) is something rarely seen in K-pop, but is something admired nonetheless. One of the beautiful things in this industry is getting to see how these groups of friends (and, not in a negative context, coworkers) grow together and change as the years pass. Whether it’s ten more years together, or less, NCT 127 is here at this moment, boldly themselves and ever embodying what it means to be “neo.”
NCT 127
Comments