NCT 127 Performs as Five, but Says All Seven Will Be Onstage Next Year

NCT 127 may have taken the stage with five members, but its 10th-anniversary concert never lost sight of all seven.

Doyoung and Jungwoo, currently completing their mandatory military service, watched from the audience as Taeyong, Johnny, Yuta, Jaehyun and Haechan carried the group through a demanding two-and-a-half-hour show. Songs were rearranged, parts were reassigned and formations were rebuilt, turning their absence into a chance to show how NCT 127 has learned to adapt over the past decade.

The group wrapped up the Seoul leg of its fifth tour, "NEO CITY : SEOUL - THE REDLINE," at KSPO DOME on Sept. 20. The three-night run drew approximately 31,500 fans after selling out every seat, including those with limited views.

The concert began at full force. Dressed in black leather, the members descended from above, suspended among a tangle of cables as "Legacy" filled the arena. Red lights and lasers cut across the venue before the group moved directly into "Step Up" and "Walk."

The five-member setup became most noticeable during "Cherry Bomb." Jaehyun took over Doyoung's lines, while Taeyong replaced Mark's section with a newly written rap. The changes made the familiar song feel less like a substitute version and more like one built specifically for the lineup onstage.

Taeyong later revealed that he spent two days persuading the members to join him for the choreography during his new verse. Johnny joked that they could perform it again whenever Czennies wanted.

The production was at its most effective when it sharpened the character of each song. During "Punch," lasers descended to form a boxing ring around the members as they performed on a rotating platform. Taeyong called it the best staging of the song they had done so far.

"Bring The Noize" and "2 Baddies" kept the arena moving. When Taeyong shouted, "Czennies, are you ready?" fans rose across the venue. He acknowledged that those near the front had less room to jump and told them he would count on their voices instead. They responded with an even louder singalong.

The mood eased during "NonStop," "IKR" and "Ay-Yo." At the end of "Ay-Yo," footage of Doyoung and Jungwoo from a previous concert appeared behind the five members. For a brief moment, all seven were part of the same performance.

Now dressed in beige tops and jeans, the members slowed things down with "Not Alone" and "Day After Day." They sang from a gently rotating stage, making eye contact with fans around the arena. Before "Day After Day," Jaehyun shouted, "Czennies, I love you," drawing one of the night's loudest reactions.

"0 Mile," "Summer 127" and "Getaway" brought out a looser side of the group. The members moved freely around the stage, waving to fans and joking with one another. At one point, Yuta lay down onstage while continuing to sing.

The final stretch pushed the spectacle further. NCT 127 entered through the audience on a vehicle covered in its signature poison frog print for "Piñata." "Fire Truck" followed with flames, smoke cannons and water spraying across the stage, while a giant foot-shaped balloon and characters representing Doyoung and Jungwoo gave the performance a playful edge.

For "Fact Check," a massive arm-shaped structure descended above the members as more than 100 lasers swept through the venue. The scale was impressive, but the production avoided feeling interchangeable by giving each song its own visual language.

"Kick It" and "Blingy" closed the main set with little sign that the members intended to conserve their energy. Taeyong admitted that "Blingy" was especially difficult to perform but said the members relied on one another to reach the end.

"We look at each other and think, 'Let's make it through,'" he said. "I think that is what makes NCT 127 special."

During the encore, the members rode paper airplane-themed carts through the second and third levels while performing "Paper Plane" and "TOUCH." Doyoung and Jungwoo remained in the audience, where they were joined by NCT WISH.

Doyoung also prepared a rice cake display for NCT 127's anniversary, decorated with pieces featuring the members' photos. The group shared them with fans as part of the celebration. When Haechan asked whether Doyoung and Jungwoo had joined the singalongs, both responded from their seats. Jungwoo even performed a short section of the "Blingy" choreography.

"What makes today more meaningful than the past two days is that every member is in this arena," Taeyong said. "Next year, all seven of us will show you something great together on the same stage."

Yuta noted that few groups have had to redistribute roles and parts as often as NCT 127. While the changes have not always been easy, he said successfully pulling them off has become a source of pride.

Haechan acknowledged that the tight preparation schedule had initially worried him, but said he was happy the members had created another lasting memory. He added that he was already curious to see how "Blingy" would look with Doyoung and Jungwoo back onstage.

Johnny thanked fans for making the concert feel like a shared experience and promised that the group would carry that energy into the tour. "The seven of us will stay healthy, do our best and take on the world," he said.

Jaehyun offered a quieter reflection on the anniversary.

"When I was 20, I used to wonder what our 10th anniversary would feel like. Now that we are here, it does not feel like such a big mystery," he said. "What matters is giving everything we have and doing our best each day."

He added, "We are not the only ones getting older. We are growing older together, and I love that."

Rather than trying to hide the members who were missing, NCT 127 reshaped the show around the five who could perform while leaving room for Doyoung and Jungwoo throughout. It was a fitting picture of the group at 10 years: five members holding the stage, two waiting to return and all seven already looking toward what comes next.

NCT 127 will continue "THE REDLINE" in Jakarta on Oct. 3, followed by stops in Hong Kong, Singapore, Saitama, Bangkok, Manila, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Macao.