NCT 127 feels like it's starting over on 10th anniversary album

NCT 127 unveils its seventh studio album, BLINGY, on Monday, signifying a fresh start in its 10th anniversary year. Three founding members are notably absent from the Seoul-based group, which debuted in July 2016 with the ambition of taking the city to stages worldwide. The unit, under SM Entertainment's expansive NCT roster, has churned out chart-toppers like Cherry Bomb, Kick It, Sticker, Fact Check, and Walk over the past decade.

Currently, the team comprises Taeyong, Johnny, Jaehyun, Yuta, and Haechan. Vocalists Doyoung and Jungwoo are serving their mandatory military obligations, while Mark departed the group in April after his exclusive contract with SM expired. Just hours before the album's release, the five remaining members gathered for a press conference at Lotte World Tower in Seoul's Songpa District to discuss their comeback and reflect on their 10-year journey in the industry.

Taeyong remarked, "We tried to find our way back to where we started," expressing the collective effort to ensure that the absent members still feel represented through the new work.