SM Entertainment's new CEO Jang Cheol Hyuk describes in details plans for NCT Japan + new boy group consisting of members Shotaro, Sungchan, Eunseok, & Seunghan

On May 24 KST, SM Entertainment unveiled a description video to introduce its three new IP projects expected to launch in 2023 as a part of 'SM 3.0'. 

The agency's new CEO Jang Cheol Hyuk appeared as the spokesperson in this video, describing in order plans for NCT's final team, NCT Japan; the agency's new rookie boy group; and lastly, the agency's new multi-member rookie girl group.

First, NCT's final unit, NCT Japan, will attempt to match the regional characteristics of the NCT universe with a larger selection of Japanese members. In order to do so, SM Entertainment will partner up with a Japanese media agency and launch a pre-debut member selection show, through which trainees will be chosen to debut in NCT Japan. Before the launch of the pre-debut show, two new members who have already earned debut spots in NCT Japan will be introduced as S.M.ROOKIES, one being a Korean member and the other being Japanese. Current S.M.ROOKIES member Shohei, who was expected to be included in NCT Japan, will unfortunately not participate in the newly designed NCT Japan structure.

Second, SM Entertainment's new rookie boy group, scheduled to launch some time in the third quarter of 2023, will consist of: former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan, S.M.ROOKIES members Eunseok and Seunghan, and at least one or more members of Korean/American nationality. As a part of the new boy group's upcoming launch plans, SM Entertainment just announced the departure of Shotaro and Sungchan from NCT. 

Finally, SM Entertainment's new rookie girl group, scheduled to launch some time in the fourth quarter of 2023, will boast a large group size. The team will feature trainees unveiled in March of this year during SM Entertainment's open evaluation, as well as un-revealed trainees.