Group Profile
- Group Name: WayV (威神V)
- Debut: January 17, 2019
- Current state: Active
- Years Active: 2019–present (7 years)
- Entertainment Company: Label V (SM Entertainment subsidiary)
- Fandom: WayZenNi
- Group Color: Neo Pearl Champagne
- Members: Kun, Ten, Xiaojun, Hendery, Yangyang, WinWin (Inactive)
- Oldest Member: Kun
- Youngest Member: Yangyang
- Most Popular Member: Ten
- Notable Albums: The Vision, Take Off, Take Over the Moon, Awaken the World, Kick Back, Phantom, On My Youth
- Country: China (Sub-unit of South Korean group NCT)
- Leader: Kun
WayV is a boy group established in China by SM Entertainment through its sub-label LABEL V. The group debuted on January 17, 2019, as the fourth sub-unit of NCT.
Currently, WayV consists of six members of various nationalities: Kun, WinWin, and Xiaojun from China; Ten from Thailand; Hendery from Macau; and YangYang from Taiwan. Former member Lucas (from Hong Kong) left NCT and WayV in May 2023 to focus on solo activities.
Members
| Member | Real Name | Date of Birth | Hometown | Position |
| Kun | Qian Kun (钱锟) | 01/01/1996 | Fujian, China | Leader, Main Vocalist |
| Ten | Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul | 27/02/1996 | Bangkok, Thailand | Main Dancer, Vocalist |
| WinWin | Dong Sicheng (董思成) | 28/10/1997 | Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China | Dancer, Rapper |
| Xiaojun | Xiao Dejun (肖德俊) | 08/08/1999 | Dongguan, Guangdong, China | Main Vocalist |
| Hendery | Wong Kunhang (黃冠亨) | 28/09/1999 | Macau | Rapper, Sub-Vocalist |
| YangYang | Liu Yangyang (刘扬扬) | 10/10/2000 | New Taipei, Taiwan | Main Rapper, Maknae |
Meaning of WayV
Both WayV and 威神V are official names used interchangeably. The Chinese characters in “威神V” roughly translate to “powerful gods.”
The English name WayV is derived from the Chinese name, with the character “神” omitted, and also serves as an abbreviation for We Are Your Vision. Prior to their official debut, the group project was known by working titles such as NCT China and NCT Vision.
Fandom and Lightstick
The official fandom name for WayV is WayZenNi, derived from the phrase 威神V珍惜你 (Wēi Shén V zhēnxī nǐ), meaning “WayV treasures you.”
The official WayV lightstick was unveiled on September 27, 2019. The design features a three-dimensional “V” shape with a fluorescent mint-green color paired with a white handle. Due to its distinctive shape and color, fans nicknamed the lightstick Daebabong (대파봉), meaning “leek stick.”
Influence
WayV is primarily active in the Chinese market and several Asian markets, including South Korea, Thailand, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The group’s official Instagram account (@wayvofficial) currently has millions of followers.
In May 2019, WayV reached number 7 on the Billboard Social 50, a chart measuring artist popularity across global social media. Their debut album, Take Off, also topped iTunes charts in numerous countries and regions.
In September 2024, WayV made their official debut in the Japanese market with the mini-album The Highest, reaching number 1 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart.
Despite being established to focus on China, the members of WayV live mostly in South Korea and frequently carry out schedules in Seoul. The group possesses a distinct fandom system, lightstick, and merchandise separate from other NCT units. The six members speak multiple languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, English, Thai, and German.
Awards
WayV has received numerous accolades at music award ceremonies across Asia:
- December 4, 2019:Best New Asian Artist at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
- November 28, 2020:Asia Celebrity Award (Music) at the Asia Artist Awards.
- December 6, 2020:Favorite Asian Artist at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
- November 19, 2023:Global Male Group of the Year at the Super Sound Festival Bangkok.
- December 2023:Emerging/Rising Group of the Year at the Tencent Music White Paper Chart.
- December 2023:Top 20 Albums of the Year (Chinese) for the album On My Youth and People’s Choice Award (Chinese) for Phantom at the APMA Asian Pop Music Awards (Hong Kong).
- 2024: The song Give Me That achieved its first win on a South Korean music program.
Musical Style
WayV‘s music blends various genres, most notably hip-hop, R&B, and electronic dance music. During their early years, the group established a mature, urban image through tracks such as Love Talk, Moonwalk, and Domino.
From 2024 onward, WayV’s musical style expanded in several directions, including funk with Give Me That, old-school hip-hop with a boom-bap influence in Frequency, and a jazz-brass style in Big Bands, released in 2025.
WayV‘s works are primarily released in Chinese, though Korean, English, or Japanese versions may be produced depending on the project. The mini-album Big Bands (2025) was co-produced by Jesse Blum, featuring prominent brass instrumentation reminiscent of traditional big band arrangements.