Ryo Profile: Age, Height, Career, Facts & More
Few NCT WISH members have an origin story as fan-friendly as Ryo’s.
He was a Kyoto-born teenager watching an NCT 127 concert with his older sister when SM Entertainment scouted him, and a little more than a year later he was competing on NCT Universe: LASTART and then debuting in the group built from that show. Today he is NCT WISH’s sub-vocalist and one of its brightest personalities.
This complete profile breaks down everything fans want to know about Ryo: his age, height, career, personality, and the fun facts that keep circulating through the fandom.
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Quick Facts About Ryo
- Real Name: Hirose Ryo (廣瀬遼)
- Stage Name: Ryo (료 / リョウ)
- Birth Date: August 4, 2007
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
- Chinese Zodiac Sign: Pig
- Birthplace: Kyoto, Japan
- Position: Sub-Vocalist
- Height: Approximately 165 cm (5’5″)
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: ENTP-A (previously ENFP)
- Nationality: Japanese
- Agency: SM Entertainment
- Group: NCT, NCT WISH
- Nicknames: Maltese, Jakdaeng
- Representative Emoji / Color: 🦭 (Seal) / Yellow
- Education: Notre Dame Academy Elementary School (graduated)
Early Life and Background
Ryo was born on August 4, 2007, in Kyoto, Japan. His family consists of his parents and an older sister born in 2004, and she is part of why he is in K-pop at all: in 2022, while the two were attending an NCT 127 concert together, SM Entertainment scouted Ryo.
Fans like to point out that he was a genuine NCT fan before he became a member, and that detail has become a favorite piece of NCT WISH lore.
After being cast, Ryo trained for about one year before entering the survival show that would decide NCT’s newest unit. His role models are NCT’s Doyoung and Haechan, and in his introduction on the show he said he wanted to become an artist who could show a cool side on stage, in the style of Doyoung.
Career Highlights
NCT Universe: LASTART Ryo was revealed as a contestant on NCT Universe: LASTART in July 2023, as one of the first contestants introduced, with a cheerful self-introduction that played up his bright, active personality. Fan-wiki records list his final rank as fifth, which secured him a spot in the group then known as NCT New Team.
The original lineup had seven members, but Jungmin returned to trainee status in October 2023 to focus on his health, which left the six-member group that debuted in 2024.
Debut as NCT WISH The group released the pre-debut single “Hands Up” on October 19, 2023, and held a pre-debut tour in Japan, with 28 shows across 10 cities.
On January 17, 2024, SM announced the official name, NCT WISH, and the group debuted on February 21, 2024, with the single “WISH,” released in Japanese and Korean versions. A Korean single album, Songbird, followed in July 2024.
As sub-vocalist, Ryo adds a bright, clear tone to the group’s vocal line, and fans often single out his precise, expressive dancing as one of his strengths.
A Million-Selling Group NCT WISH became a million-seller act with its second EP, Poppop, released on April 14, 2025, which sold more than 1.08 million copies. The September 2025 EP COLOR sold more than 1.3 million copies in its first week, according to Korean media.
The group released its first Japanese mini album, Wishlist, on January 14, 2026, and then embarked on its first solo concert tour, Into the Wish: Our Wish, which spanned 30 shows across 18 regions and included sold-out encore concerts at KSPO Dome in Seoul from April 17 to 19, 2026.
The Ode to Love Era On April 20, 2026, NCT WISH released its first Korean full-length album, Ode to Love, a 10-track project. At the album’s press conference on April 19, Ryo explained that the title track is built on a UK garage-based dance-pop sound and carries a message of warmth and kindness in a cold world, while keeping the group’s signature “neo” sound.
The rollout also used a storyline inspired by the mythology of Eros and Anteros. On September 7, Korean outlets reported that NCT WISH would release a fourth mini album in October 2026.
Personality and Public Image
Ryo is widely described as bright, active, and quick to smile, a personality that has been part of his image since his first introduction on LASTART.
He has a small mole next to his eye that fans consider one of his charm points, and he has said that his favorite items are his cellphone and a doll that has been with him since birth, a detail fans find endearing. He has also said that if he weren’t a singer, he would want to become an astronaut.
He is especially close to fellow member Sakuya; the two are known as best friends within the group. Ryo himself isn’t a fan of the color yellow, but Sakuya chose it as his official color during promotions, and it stuck. That small story captures his role in NCT WISH: the member who takes teasing in stride and makes the group’s content feel lighter.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Ryo was scouted by SM Entertainment in 2022 while attending an NCT 127 concert with his older sister.
- His role models are NCT’s Doyoung and Haechan.
- His favorite NCT song is “Love Sign.”
- His nicknames include Maltese and Jakdaeng, which means small and doggy.
- His representative emoji is a seal, and his official color is yellow, a choice made by Sakuya.
- If he weren’t a singer, he says he would want to be an astronaut.
- His MBTI has been listed as ENTP-A, an update from ENFP.
- He graduated from Notre Dame Academy Elementary School in Kyoto.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Ryo appears across NCT WISH’s official channels, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube, where the group shares performance clips, vlogs, and tour content.
His bright on-camera presence and friendship with Sakuya are frequent highlights in the group’s behind-the-scenes videos, and fans can revisit his press conference remarks about Ode to Love through official interviews from April 2026.
With another mini album reportedly on the way and the group’s touring era continuing, Ryo’s role as NCT WISH’s bright, expressive sub-vocalist is set to stay in the spotlight.
Conclusion
From an NCT concert attendee in Kyoto to a member of a million-selling NCT unit, Ryo’s career reflects a story that many fans dream about.
Whether fans are drawn in by his bright vocals, his expressive dancing, his friendship with Sakuya, or the way he explains the group’s music in interviews, Ryo continues to prove why he is such a beloved part of NCT WISH.
As the group’s global reach continues to grow, all eyes remain on Ryo to see where his journey from fan to performer leads next.
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