Lee Je-no (Korean: 이제노; born April 23, 2000), known professionally as Jeno, is a South Korean rapper, singer, and dancer. Lee began his career as a child commercials model. He was discovered by SM Entertainment at the age of thirteen. Lee officially debuted in August 2016 as a member of South Korean boy band NCT through the sub-unit NCT Dream.
Lee hosted the television program The Show from May 2018 to November 2019.
Career
Pre-debut activities
Lee began his career as a child model in various commercials in South Korea throughout his childhood.[1][2]
Lee 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
On August 24, 2016, Lee debuted in NCT Dream, the third sub-unit of NCT.[6] Lee, 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 Lee was chosen as a new MC.[citation needed] Besides contributing vocals to NCT Dream's songs, Lee also began writing lyrics on the song "Dear Dream" for the NCT Dream's second EPWe Go Up, alongside members Mark, Jaemin and Jisung.[8] Lee has since written lyrics for tracks on NCT Dream's subsequent albums.[9][10]
On March 13, 2019, Lee, 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.[11] On November 23, 2020, Lee 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, Lee featured on Donghae's song "California Love".[12] In August 2022, Lee featured on Key's song "Villain".[13] On September 13, Lee 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.[14][15]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".[16] In December 2022, Lee featured on "Hot & Cold" from 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace alongside labelmates Kai, Seulgi and Aespa's Karina.[17]
Other ventures
Endorsements
In 2023, Lee was named as Ferragamo's first global male brand ambassador.[18][19]
Philanthropy
In May 2019, Lee, 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.[20]
^"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.
^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.
