Former underground idol falls for NCT WISH's Ryo
This is sudden, but I've known K-pop for over 15 years, and
the undisputed number one in my ranking of people I never expected to fall this hard for is
as the title says, Ryo from NCT WISH.
NCT WISH
First of all, are you familiar with the major Korean idol agency SM Entertainment?
Groups like Girls' Generation and KARA, BIGBANG and 2NE1, which were positioned as the second generation, surely gave a significant boost to K-pop culture in Japan, didn't they?
Among these, Girls' Generation, TVXQ, and also aespa and BoA belong to SME.
Within this SME, the group that operates in a unique format is NCT
~Neo Culture Technology~
NCT is a group with a total of over 20 members, and units are formed and operate within this large framework called NCT.
For example, NCT 127, which focuses on activities in Korea,
NCT U, which does not consist of specific members (United) and operates according to a concept,
and there are also units that focus on activities in China, such as NCT DREAM and WayV.
Among them, the one that was promoted and formed extensively as the "last NCT" is
"NCT WISH".
They were formed, and I think it's been about two years?
Honestly, I'm not well-versed in the history of NCT WISH itself, but I liked their songs and often enjoyed listening to them.
They made a comeback with their first full album "Ode to Love" starting on April 20, 2026.
The track "Sticky"
Included as the third track on their 1st album, "Sticky"
is a song that I think is pleasant to listen to, characterized by tropical house, with the comfort of early summer and a groovy feel.
The pre-release song Sticky, which was released before their activities starting on April 20, appeared on my YouTube, in other words, my algorithm, without any major warning.
What is this song!
What is this choreography!
What is this euphoria!
The one who particularly caught my eye was the member Ryo.
Above all else, one thing I became obsessed with is how he presents himself,
in other words, his dancing!!!!!!!!
I feel that the number one thing about his stage presence is his "idol power that captivates through precision."
Every single movement is "precise" and "careful," and I think he particularly embodies the groove that the choreographer "wants to convey."
The difficulty of performing as a group
Standing on stage and dancing might seem simple on the surface, but when performing as a group like NCT WISH, if individual personalities are too strong, it can lead to a lack of uniformity in power, making it harder for the group to look cohesive, which in turn makes it harder for the song to come across.👀
That is why you need to synchronize where necessary, and when letting other members shine, you need a sense of balance beyond just matching the choreography,
and they have to manage these delicate, simultaneous tasks while singing on stage.
I feel that Ryo's true brilliance lies in his sense of balance—knowing when to let others shine and when to synchronize.
I often think of this in terms of "subtraction," and as someone who has stood on stage myself, I know all too well how difficult that is.
Tension and excitement inevitably lead to stiffness, which can cause mistakes, and more than anything, the desire for approval can sometimes get in the way, leading to unintentional unique flourishes that make choreography that should be synchronized look different.
A balancer and the core.
In a group, there are inevitably members who become harder to see depending on their position during choreography or the camera angle. This is the fate of an even-numbered group, which is unavoidable for a six-member group like NCT WISH.
In any scene, even when Ryo himself isn't the main focus, he doesn't disrupt the song and shows expressions and performances that match the world of the track; above all, he is bright.
In the image above, if I may be so bold, Sakuya on the edge looks a bit spaced out lol (I love that soft vibe, I'm definitely not attacking him!)
Even though you can't even see Ryo's face here, the ups and downs of his movements have proper inflection, and I think it's amazing how you can tell he's having fun.
There are so many moments starting about 50 seconds into the song where you just can't help but follow him with your eyes, so of course you'd fall down the rabbit hole. I'm convincing myself as I write this lol
He's on the slender side, so while Sion or Riku might stand center when they need to bring the intensity, I feel that Ryo's one-of-a-kind sense of balance and his ability to make difficult things look easy are the core of the group.
Wait, he didn't have any dance experience, did he??
I haven't looked into that properly yet, but it's amazing...
Personally, I've watched and listened to many groups, both male and female, but it's been a long time since I've felt such a shock that made me want to push someone this suddenly🎉
Those who realize his charm will probably support him forever as long as he's in the group, just like me lol
The 'Sticky' dance practice is also a must-see.