JENO

Biography

Jeno is a South Korean rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter, and television host. He is a member of the South Korean boy band NCT and its sub-units NCT Dream and NCT U, managed by SM Entertainment. Jeno began his entertainment career as a child commercial model and debuted with NCT Dream in August 2016.

Early Life and Education

Lee Jeno was born on April 23, 2000, in Incheon, South Korea and later spent much of his childhood in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. He began working as a child commercial model, appearing in numerous television advertisements from a young age, which introduced him to the entertainment industry early in life.

Jeno was scouted by SM Entertainment at the age of 13 and joined the company as a trainee in June 2013. He was introduced as part of SM Rookies, SM Entertainment’s pre-debut training team, in December 2013. During his trainee years, he continued developing his skills in rap, dance, vocals, and performance under the company’s rigorous training system.

Jeno attended Hyunsan Elementary School and Hyunsan Middle School, and later enrolled at the School of Performing Arts Seoul, where he focused on music and performance education while preparing for his debut.

Career

Pre-Debut and SM Rookies (2013–2016)

After joining SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2013, Jeno was introduced as a member of SM Rookies in December of the same year, a pre-debut team designed to showcase promising trainees. As part of SM Rookies, he appeared on the reality program EXO 90:2014 and later performed as a Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club alongside future NCT members, gaining early exposure in music and television.

Debut with NCT Dream and Group Activities (2016–present)

Jeno officially debuted with NCT Dream on August 25, 2016, with the single “Chewing Gum,” marking his formal entry into the K-pop scene as a rapper, dancer, and vocalist. NCT Dream was originally conceptualized as a teenage unit of NCT, but later became a fixed sub-unit due to its success and evolving group structure.

Beyond NCT Dream, Jeno has also participated in promotions with the rotational unit NCT U, expanding his involvement within the broader NCT collective. His artistic contributions include not only performance but also songwriting credits on select tracks.

In addition to his group activities, Jeno served as a host of the music program The Show from May 2018 to November 2019, showcasing his versatility and presence in broadcast entertainment.

Other Ventures and Public Roles

Outside of musical activities, Jeno has expanded his public profile through endorsements and media work. In May 2023, he was named Ferragamo’s first global male brand ambassador, highlighting his influence in fashion and global marketing. He was further selected in February 2025 as the first global male ambassador for the Korean cosmetics brand A’pieu.

Jeno has also been involved in philanthropic work, including volunteer efforts with Good Neighbours International in Indonesia and ambassadorship roles addressing social issues.

Discography

Drama