Ten Profile: Age, Height, Career, Facts & More
Ten is one of the most versatile performers in NCT: a Bangkok-born dancer, vocalist, and rapper who became the first Thai idol under SM Entertainment, a member of NCT U, WayV, and the supergroup SuperM, and a solo artist with his own fashion ambassadorship.
In April 2026, his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment ended, but he remains a member of NCT and WayV and has launched a label of his own.
This complete profile breaks down everything fans want to know about Ten: his age, height, career, personality, and the fun facts that keep circulating through the fandom.
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Quick Facts About Ten
- Real Name: Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul (ชิตพล ลี้ชัยพรกุล)
- Chinese Name: Li Yongqin (李永钦)
- Stage Name: Ten (텐 / เตนล์)
- Birth Date: February 27, 1996
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Birthplace: Bangkok, Thailand
- Position: Main Dancer, Main Vocalist (WayV), Sub-Rapper, Center (WayV)
- Height: Approximately 170 cm (5’7″)
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: INFJ
- Nationality: Thai
- Company: illimnt (own label); WayV is under SM’s Label V
- Group: NCT, NCT U, WayV (including the WayV-TEN&YANGYANG duo); former member of SuperM
- Education: Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok
- Brand Ambassadorship: Saint Laurent
- Instagram: @tenlee_1001
Early Life and Background
Ten was born on February 27, 1996, in Bangkok, Thailand, and is of Thai and Chinese background. He attended Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok, where he practiced gymnastics and won a trophy and several medals, and he started dancing through breaking, the first dance style he learned.
He plays guitar and piano and speaks Korean, Thai, English, Japanese, and Mandarin, which has made him a natural communicator across NCT’s international fan communities. His admiration for performers such as Rihanna and Taemin shaped his early taste.
His path into K-pop began with an SM Global Audition in Bangkok. He was introduced on December 24, 2013, as a member of SM Rookies, the company’s pre-debut team, and became the first Thai idol to train at SM. After more than two years of training, he made his debut as part of NCT.
Career Highlights
Debut and WayV Ten debuted in April 2016 as a member of NCT U, performing as dancer, vocalist, and rapper on the double singles “The 7th Sense” and “Without You.”
He took part in the 2016 Mnet dance competition Hit the Stage, and in April 2017, he released his first solo digital single through SM Station. On December 31, 2018, he was revealed as a member of WayV, NCT’s China-based unit, which debuted on January 17, 2019, with the digital EP The Vision.
In WayV, he is a main dancer and main vocalist and a visual center of the group’s stage formations. In October 2019, he joined SuperM, and the supergroup became the first Asian act to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.
Duo and Solo Releases In June 2021, Ten and fellow WayV member Yangyang released the digital single “Low Low” as WayV-TEN&YANGYANG.
He made his official solo debut with the self-titled EP TEN in February 2024, an English-language release led by “Nightwalker” that reached top-five placements on charts in South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom, and he followed it with a fan-con tour that visited Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Jakarta.
His second mini album, Stunner, arrived on March 24, 2025, and his Japanese debut mini album, Humanity, came out on April 23, 2025, followed by a solo Japan tour, 1001 TIME WARP. In 2026, solo releases including “If You Don’t Mean It” and “Outwest” continued that run.
Fashion and Brand Ambassadorships On March 7, 2024, SM Entertainment confirmed that Ten had attended Saint Laurent’s Men’s Winter 2024 show in Paris as an official brand ambassador.
He has since been credited with several beauty and lifestyle partnerships, including Banobagi Asia, Maybelline New York, and Snidel Beauty, and campaigns for Thai brands such as 7-Eleven Thailand and Kao, according to fan-wiki endorsement lists. His unisex, risk-taking style has earned consistent praise from fashion media.
Leaving SM, Staying in NCT On April 6, 2026, SM Entertainment announced that, after extensive discussions with Ten about his future direction, it had agreed with him to conclude his exclusive contract effective April 8. The statement made clear that he would remain a member of NCT and WayV, and that the agency would stay in close communication about group matters.
Ten also addressed fans about the decision, and he later announced TENTH SOUND, a Bangkok-based music and concert production company, on May 5, followed by the label illimnt on May 15. Media reports describe him as continuing to take part in WayV and NCT activities where possible.
WayV in 2026 WayV carried on as a five-member group after Winwin concluded his NCT and WayV activities in July 2026, with Kun, Ten, Xiaojun, Hendery, and Yangyang remaining.
Personality and Public Image
Ten is widely seen as one of NCT’s most confident and expressive performers, a dancer whose lines and stage charisma are among the group’s calling cards. Off stage, he is known for a warm, sociable personality, and fans have loved his interactions with Yangyang, his frequent duo partner within WayV.
His work as a mentor and judge on idol and dance programs, including the Universe League audition show, has also shown a nurturing side.
His move to his own label is widely read as a step toward more creative independence, and fans have responded with pride as he builds a base in Bangkok while staying with NCT and WayV.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Ten was the first Thai idol trained by SM Entertainment.
- He was introduced as an SM Rookies trainee on December 24, 2013.
- His first dance style was breaking, and he also practiced gymnastics at school.
- He speaks Korean, Thai, English, Japanese, and Mandarin.
- He plays guitar and piano.
- He appeared on Hit the Stage in 2016.
- He was named a Saint Laurent ambassador in March 2024.
- His fan-con tour in 2024 was titled “1001,” and he has since toured Japan under the name 1001 TIME WARP.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Ten is active on Instagram under @tenlee_1001 and appears across NCT’s and WayV’s official channels, including YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.
His solo releases and his label’s announcements are shared through his own accounts, so fans who want to follow his post-SM career should watch his personal pages as well as NCT’s group channels.
With a new label, a growing discography, and continued WayV and NCT involvement, Ten’s next few years look to be some of his most independent.
Conclusion
From a Bangkok gymnast and break-dancer to NCT’s first Thai member, a Saint Laurent ambassador, a solo artist, and now the head of his own label, Ten’s career reflects restless creativity and a willingness to grow.
Whether fans are drawn in by his dancing, his fashion sense, his solo music, or his decision to build something new while staying in NCT and WayV, Ten continues to prove why he is one of the most compelling performers of his generation.
As his independent chapter unfolds, all eyes remain on Ten to see what he creates next.
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