NCT WISH hits new milestone, reveals the simple wish behind 1 million pre-orders

NCT WISH’s new album has surpassed 1 million pre-orders, marking a major milestone for the group. Their debut single 'WISH' recorded 370,000, second single 'Songbird' hit 630,000, and their first mini-album 'STEADY' surpassed 800,000 pre-orders. 

Now, just 412 days since debut, NCT WISH has officially become a million-seller in pre-orders alone — a remarkable feat for a group’s fourth physical release.

And that’s not the only impressive figure. Ahead of their second mini-album 'poppop', released on April 14, the group’s cumulative album sales had nearly reached 2 million, and they’ve already held 62 performances — the most ever by a debut group. Among fifth-generation idols, these are standout numbers. It’s no wonder that parts of the K-pop world have begun calling them the “princes of records.”

The 1 million pre-order milestone was the hot topic as the group headed into their latest interview — but despite the record-breaking numbers, the members still seem a bit bashful. 

“Hearing it as a number, it finally feels real.”

Their wish is that their global fandom, NCTzens, will “never stop loving us” and not “leave the fandom”. It’s this sincere hope that may reveal the true hearts behind the million-selling, still-boyish NCT WISH.

In an era where idol careers are fast-paced and constantly shifting, this now second-year group has some grounded and relatable perspectives too. Speaking in terms familiar to their peers, they joked about “getting bulked up"— a hot topic among young men.

“We don’t think it’s quite time to bulk up yet,” one member said with a smile. “We feel like our fans probably want to see more of our cute, youthful side for now.”

That “youthful charm,” often described as 'cheongryang' in Korean — meaning refreshing — has become a trademark image for NCT WISH, and a huge part of their appeal.

As their chart success continues and their career takes flight, the group shared a simple but meaningful dream for the future:

“This year, we want to hear our songs playing more often just walking down the street."