Lee Je-no (Korean이제노; born April 23, 2000), known professionally as Jeno, is a South Korean rapper and singer. Jeno began his career as a child commercial model. He was discovered by SM Entertainment at the age of thirteen. Jeno officially debuted in August 2016 as a member of South Korean boy band NCT through the sub-unit NCT Dream.

Jeno
Jeno in 2024
Born
Lee Je-no

(2000-04-23) April 23, 2000 (age 24)
Incheon, South Korea
EducationSchool of Performing Arts Seoul
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2013–present
Musical career
GenresK-pop
InstrumentVocals
LabelsSM
Member of
Formerly ofSM Rookies
WebsiteOfficial website
Korean name
Hangul
이제노
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Je-no
McCune–ReischauerYi Cheno

Jeno hosted the television program The Show from May 2018 to November 2019.

Career

edit

Pre-debut activities

edit

Jeno began his career as a child model in various commercials in South Korea throughout his childhood.[1][2]

Jeno was introduced as one of the first members of SM Entertainment's pre-debut team, SM Rookies, on December 3, 2013.[3] In 2014, he made his first appearance as a member of SM Rookies, alongside fellow NCT members Mark, Jaemin, Haechan and Jisung, on Exo 90:2014, a reality TV Show starring Exo.[4] In 2015, he appeared as a Mouseketeer alongside other SM Rookies members on Disney Channel Korea's show The Mickey Mouse Club, which aired from July 23 to December 17, 2015.[5]

2016–present: Debut with NCT

edit

On August 24, 2016, Jeno debuted in NCT Dream, the third sub-unit of NCT.[6] Jeno, along with NCT Dream, participated in NCT's first album, NCT 2018 Empathy, with the single "Go".[7] On May 22, 2018, SBS MTV's The Show announced Jeno was chosen as a new MC.[8] Besides contributing vocals to NCT Dream's songs, Jeno also began writing lyrics on the song "Dear Dream" for the NCT Dream's second EP We Go Up, alongside members Mark, Jaemin and Jisung.[9] Jeno has since written lyrics for tracks on NCT Dream's subsequent albums.[10][11]

On March 13, 2019, Jeno, alongside fellow NCT Dream members Jaemin and Jisung, represented K-pop stars at the "K-Wave & Halal Show" in Malaysia. The friendship event between South Korea and Malaysia was attended by President Moon Jae-in as part of his three-day state visit to the country.[12] On November 23, 2020, Jeno joined NCT's rotational unit NCT U with the release of their lead track "Misfit" from NCT's second album, Resonance Pt. 1, and the lead single "90's Love" from Resonance Pt. 2.

In 2021, Jeno featured on Donghae's song "California Love".[13] In August 2022, Jeno featured on Key's song "Villain".[14] On September 13, Jeno became the first K-pop artist to be the opening model for a New York Fashion Week show, walking for Peter Do's spring 2023 collection show as part of a partnership with SM Entertainment, with whom Peter Do collaborated to create the line.[15][16] The Business of Fashion commented that it "may have been the most-anticipated show of the week" and praised Do's tailoring, highlighting the back of the garments, and ability "to reference other designers through his own work without it feeling soulless".[17] In December 2022, Jeno featured on "Hot & Cold" from 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace alongside labelmates Kai, Seulgi and Aespa's Karina.[18]

Other ventures

edit

Endorsements

edit

In 2023, Jeno was named as Ferragamo's first global male brand ambassador.[19][20]

Philanthropy

edit

In May 2019, Jeno, along with fellow NCT Dream member Jaemin, volunteered to visit children living in slums in Indonesia in collaboration with the non-governmental organizations Good Neighbours International and Gugah Nurani Indonesia Foundation.[21]

Discography

edit

Singles

edit
List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart
positions
Album
KOR
[22]
NZ
Hot

[23]
SGP
[24]
As featured artist
"California Love"
(Donghae featuring Jeno)
2021 179 Countdown (California Love ver.)
"Villain"
(Key featuring Jeno)
2022 [A] Gasoline
Collaboration
"Zoo"
(with Taeyong, Hendery, Yangyang, and Giselle)
2021 [B] 38 [C] 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express
"Hot & Cold"
(with Kai, Seulgi and Karina)
2022 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Composition credits

edit

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[9]

List of songs, showing year released, artist name, and name of the album
Title Year Artist Album Lyricist Composer
"Dear Dream" 2018 NCT Dream We Go Up    
"119" 2019 We Boom    
"Bye My First..." (사랑이좀어려워)    
"Best Friend"    
"Dream Run"    
"Puzzle Piece" (너의자리) 2020 Reload    
"Rainbow" (책갈피 2021 Hot Sauce    
"Beautiful" NCT 2021 Universe    
"Zoo" Himself (with Taeyong, Hendery, Yangyang, and Giselle) 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express    
"It's Yours" (너를위한단어) 2022 NCT Dream Glitch Mode    
"Replay" (내일봐)    
"Never Goodbye" (북극성)    
"Like We Just Met" 2023 ISTJ    
"Unknown" 2024 Dream()Scape    
"Breathing" ()    

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Love Me Not Ryu Jin [citation needed]

Web series

edit
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 A-Teen Himself Cameo (Ep. 20) [citation needed]

Television shows

edit
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018–19 The Show Host May 22, 2018 – November 26, 2019 [citation needed]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ "Villain" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 39 on the Circle Download Chart.[25]
  2. ^ "Zoo" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 130 on the Gaon Download Chart.[26]
  3. ^ "Zoo" did not enter the RIAS Top Chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Regional Chart.[24]

References

edit
  1. ^ "NCT DREAM 소년미". Allure Korea (in Korean). August 29, 2019. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Arena Homme + July Issue 2020". Arena Homme +. South Korea.
  3. ^ "SM루키즈 공개... 슈퍼주니어 규현의 그녀(?) '슬기'와 제노, 태용 3인방은 이런 모습". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). July 28, 2020. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  4. ^ OSEN (October 4, 2014). "[어저께TV] '엑소902014' K팝 시험, 90 반갑고 2014 새롭고". mosen.mt.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  5. ^ "디즈니채널, 한국판 '미키마우스클럽' 제작 'SM 루키즈 출연'". TV리포트. July 9, 2015. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "NCT Dream releases new music video". The Korea Herald. August 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  7. ^ OSEN (March 3, 2018). "NCT DREAM, 소년미 벗고 패기 더했다...마크 랩메이킹 참여". mosen.mt.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "뉴스 : 네이버 TV연예". m.entertain.naver.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Songs Registered Under LEE JE-NO (10020006)". Korea Music Copyright Association (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "'컴백 D 2' 24일 NCT DREAM의 소속사 SM엔터테인먼트에..." 글로벌에픽 (in Korean). July 27, 2019. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "NCT DREAM 해찬, '54만 장 판매고' 기록 '역대급' 앨범 판매 성과에 "믿기지 않는 숫자다 ::". www.stardailynews.co.kr (in Korean). May 13, 2020. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  12. ^ "문 대통령 내외가 선물 받은 'NCT DREAM' 앨범". Newsis (in Korean). March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Sung, Mi-kyung (October 13, 2021). "슈퍼주니어 동해, 오늘(13일) '캘리포니아 러브' 발매..NCT 제노 피처링[공식]". OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  14. ^ Park, Jun-hee (August 30, 2022). "Music worth a listen: Key on his 2nd LP 'Gasoline'". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Herman, Tamar (September 15, 2022). "K-pop stars take centre stage at New York Fashion Week, including a historic first for NCT Dream's Jeno". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Wally, Maxine (September 14, 2022). "Jen of NCT Makes K-Pop History at Peter Do's NYFW Show". W Magazine. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Sherman, Lauren (September 15, 2022). "At New York Fashion Week: What Recession". Business of Fashion. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  18. ^ 엑소·NCT·에스파 다양한 조합...'2022 SM타운'. Newsis (in Korean). December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Salibian, Sandra (May 29, 2023). "Ferragamo Taps Jeno Lee as First Global Male Brand Ambassador". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  20. ^ Fitzgerald, Benjamin (May 30, 2023). "Ferragamo names Jeno Lee first global male ambassador". FashionNetwork.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  21. ^ "NCT Dream members join humanitarian cause at Bantar Gebang landfill". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  22. ^ "2021년 42주차 Download Chart" [Week 42 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 10, 2022. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  24. ^ a b "RIAS Regional Charts – Week 4 (January 21–27, 2022)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. January 21–27, 2022. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  25. ^ "Download Chart — 2022 Weeks 36". Circle Chart. September 3, 2022. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  26. ^ 2022년 01주차 Download Chart [Week 01 of 2022 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). January 6, 2022. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
edit