Jaehyun and his Doyoung

RULES: 1) It is strongly advised to READ the blog FROM THE BEGINNING. How to find the first page, tags I use, 2) I answer only Dojae/Jaedo and NCT related Qs, 3) I moderate Asks, delete rude comments and often ignore Qs that were answered before

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The guy who thinks he is a comedian.

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From LaStart: Minjae debuted, Anderson will debut soon, Haruta and Kassho as well. Chungmin was planning to become a composer but has since deleted his socials. Maybe decided to dissapiar into the shadows completely. Unless he restored his vocal cords enough to debut and is now in a new company?

I was curious about Anderson because he was so eager, so his initial dream wasn't a fluke, he stayed in SK and pursued it further.

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It's "cool ans sexy" because Jaehyun is a Prada ambassador and 2/3 of his IG are fashion magazine quality pictures. He is also on his 10th year after debut, already with a dedicated fanbase. What he can do now he couldn't back in the day. Fans were exposed to his daily Yuno habits gradually. Plus he falls under the already accepted "just another guy" stereotype/look.

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How to tell if idols are close? (define closeness...)

There is distinction between a teammate, classmate and a close friend (intimate, very important friend/confidant). On the surface it's not always easy to tell right away because getting along together for idols is a requirement. They don't get a break from each other untill much later into their career. They live together, they work 24/7, go through hardships, gain memories, the bonding forces of "we against the adversary (the company, the public perception)" are at play, etc. Unless idols of the same group happen to be really incompatible in character, they will be tactile, laugh together, share fond memories, call each other to hang out. In additiona, Idols are often bound to their group as they don't have time or opportunity to find new people, make friends outside of the company.

A list of some signs:

1) Showing interest towards side gigs and solo activities, knowing unimportant trivia (favourite colour, band). In other words, readiness to dedicate free time/memory space without gaining company in return. Out of additional desire to know the person himself.

2) Being able to open up, share insecurities, vulnarabilities. Reach out for the person's opinion on decisions (here depends though).

3) In a room full of people pay more attention, single out. When given a choice join that member (for a game, a walk side by side).

4) Plans far in the future, obviously "extra" declarations (like Haechan offering to live side by side after retirement).

5) Taking on habits of the other person, internalising their words (point of view, motto).

6) Often remembering the person out of the blue, without being prompted by the topic or directly asked.

Here is an example (11:15) of Taeyong not only citing Doyoung's speech (i.e. he watched the performance, memorised the words) but applying the message to himself (I will work harder for the fans to not have to put extra effort into voting). He got his first win, and his mind went to Doyoung, eventhough it should have been overwhelmed with the event.

Doyoung is not detached from Tae's solo work because he was the one Tae called to observe his dancing, Do complimented his lyrics for NCT songs, pointed out the ones he liked especially. Always sent food support, including Super M events. Taeyong was inspied by Doyoung to learn singing (starting from the basics). They discussed the music direction for the group and what it means to go solo. These two friends are involved in each other's progress.

On the other hand, Yuta doesn't have anyone very close to him in 127. The neos are his friends, his team, a place he belongs to and will stay loyal to, but he is always pulled away to find new friends (mostly Japanese), new groups of people, walk an independant path. Without others tying him to them (Tae and Jae playing with him, Jungwoo giving him company, Doyoung taking care of him, etc), he would have drifted away. Doyoung took others to Hawaii and paid for the trip, while Yuta and Jaehyun or Yuta and Taeyong still "can't find time" to go to Geoje or Okinawa respectfully. Yes, it is not easy, but it is doable. Given the motivation. It is just the motivation is not that strong to move mountains. Hawaii are much futher away from Seoul than the two other islands. And Mark even managed to take a trip to Kenya on his own despite being one of the busiest members.

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Ha Doyoung

These types of jokes only work because Doyoung is known (as GM's brother or variedol) to enough portion of the show's audience. Eventually Doyoung will become a household name.

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A walk around Jaehyun's neighbourhood (the new apartment). His parents now live in his first flat.

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Who cares for creatives leaving SM when the new hires (or subcontractors) can do something like this. Another upgrade (tying merch to a season, when there is a demand, all items are useful and go together). Kudos.

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I was pointed out at an example of Doyoung cheering on Yuta, but it serves well as an example for three people (+Jae, Tae). The advertisement skits they did for Ay-Yo promotion. (14:17 - the skits, 19:00 - bloopers).

Remember what I said about Doyoung supporting Jaehyun during ShowChamp and the first variety shows? The skits are a good example of how the support looks.

Back then in 2023 Doyoung wasn't a better actor than the rest of them (the acting skills of all four are still on the same beginner level), and his experience with Midnight Cafe wasn't that big of an advantage as all neos were already used to lots of cameramen, following a script, playing silly games after years of being idols. Doyoung's advantage was the ability to focus and get the hang of a scene quickly, memorise what's needed of him and his partner. He helped to speed things up by being patient, quickly getting in position; by bringing the members back on track, pointing out their mistakes (ahead of the staff), and encouraging them.

Interestingly, Taeyong gave the signal to start speaking the ad part in unison. Such a small detail, but shows he is used to being a frontman, overseeing other members, starting the 127 greeting. The other two followed Do by default.

Also characteristic how slow-thinking but able to come up with solutions Jaehyun improved his delivery with every take (he switched his arms holding the brief case (to be able to put his hand on Do's shoulder) during the 2nd take and to "influencer" hold of the bottle during the 3d take).

Here (24:35) Do even spoke over the staff while reprimanding Taeyong himself (stop skrewing around and saying "I can't do it" or I'll kick you to the rap battle team). Despite the filming team being in the room, he was inclined to take charge, to move things along. He was overseeing that his group of people (the members) did the task that was asked of them by the other group of people (the content filming crew).

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They should perform "Jopping", seize the opportunity.

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A fan from Singapore saw Doyoung back in July 2026 at the market he shot for his "Sound of memories" content. I like this photo because it's a good illustration of the fact that Doyoung walks somewhere, and the staff, the bodyguards tag alone. While Jaehyunie needs to be guided. Doyoung's connection to the surrounding environment is astonishing to me. He is always aware. He doesn't have Mark's reflexes, the linkage is less about the physical body and more about being tuned in, actively scanning and analysing the incoming information. Knowing what you are doing and where you are going at the exact moment. Even when it looks like he is spacing out or distracted.

That's why it is easy for him to pull off the boss aura despite internally feeling out of place at a fashion week or a high-end party.

Bunny has places to be.

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I won't buy Do's parcel because I plan to spend the little money I can afford (not really) to waste annualy on Jae's album this year. However, I don't mind the merch being expensive. It is the Exclusive kind of merch. Same as Season Greetings but better prepared (the news site, the design, the number of inclusions). The fact that not many will be able to afford it is part of the appeal. Poor folks will get the videos on YT.

I do really like the packaging. The imitation of a parcel. It fits the situation of "long distance relationship" very well.

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Заяц, паяц

That's him.

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Oh? This LemonTang fashion and concept is really neat.

Sakuya and Ye-on had a "rivals" tiktok for "Rude" promotion. The two maknaes match. SM should return to gg and bg mingling, H2H and Wish are the perfect candidates. Same age members, new growing fanbases that can still be taught new norms.

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Jaehyun, stop looking like Doyoung.

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Today I learnt I didn't get a research grant I applied for early Spring. A nice castle in the sky dream popped (it was a field project with an element of adventure). And today the news about Doyoung recording sounds to use on a project track was announced. Funnily enough, my research was also about collecting sounds... Eh, I know, Doyoung, all I can do is try again, and again.

That sad said. I like that we are not getting a generic photobook (we will get it eventually, though). SM will score high if the project turns out to be a mixtape and they will sell that cassette player Doyoung holds on the promotional pics. They already sold vinyls (multiple artists), CD players (aespa), cassettes separately (Taeyeon I think?), so it's within possibility. Especially considering Jaehyun got a photocamera as merch.

Some fans think the news dropped on June 11th because June 12th is Czenie's BD (the creation of the nickname). Maybe... although it's kind of a date SM staff will remember better.

Petition for Doyoung and aquariums to become a running lore theme the same way Jaehyun and reading a poetry book is.

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i remember reading a post of yours that said that yuta used to be jealous but worked on his skills and then of course achieved the fruits of his labour. i found that interesting since i like looking through your hashtags. do you have more posts/ info.

I wrote maybe two-three times about it but not at length.

DoYu never had a real confrontation (that I'm aware of). However, they weren't close in the early years either. DoYu never shared a room in the dorms, if my memory serves me right.

Yuta's original dream was to be an idol vocalist. I can't tell you why, I don't listen to him often to know. Maybe because he was impressed with TVXQ, their performance at Tokyo Dome (I think?), so his idea of a cool idol artist was that of a singer. He was given a dancer position in the end. The addition of Doyoung to 127 worsened his chances even more.

It's not true that Yuta didn't get any lines on the first albums. He did, but he was a sub-vocal, all main central parts were given to the vocal line he wasn't a part of. So he thought he didn't have a place in the group, bought himself a ticket to Japan, was stopped in time by a Japanese choreographer Rina who taught him that anyone can shine in their own way, etc.

When it comes to Doyoung, Yuta always liked him (Yuta craves love, Do was always nice to him), but the negative emotions made him be petty. Plus the age when teens/young adults fight for hierarchy. In short, in the early content Yuta regularly poked Doyoung in his sensitive spots (and back then he didn't have the patience of today and got offended in earnest). It wasn't on a big scale, nothing bad, but noticeable. Enough to be a reflection of inner feelings. The "I'm better than you in this" and "don't be so cocky" confrontation. Today Yuta puts Doyoung above himself in a sense, acknowledges him as a leader (he is our manager, I just follow when it comes to the group) and one of the members who openly thanks him for all the help and backstage work.

What's funny is that because Yuta was a hyung, a foreigner, and a bit stand offish, Doyoung couldn't understand for a long time that Yuta behaved like the oldest child: too proud to ask for nice words. That he asked for help by misbehaving, in a sense. When Doyoung realised he started giving Yuta individual attention and praise before Japanese fans a lot (you know the list: "I will learn Japanese for you to have someone to speak with in your mother tongue", "thanks to Yuta who corrected our pronunciation we recorded the Japanese album with no problems", updating Yuta on all plans and preparations for 127 while the latter is in Japan, "I'm a fan of Yuta the soloist", etc).

Yuta kissing Doyoung during a concert in Japan, when his parents were in the audience was a big moment. One of those that says volumes.

When I joined the fandom I heard others say that Yuta is a good dancer or that he is a close friend with Taeyong. I could see neither. Yuta wasn't in the best of places, and he didn't shine during performances. "Regular" was the turning point (actually it was earlier, but when it comes to MVs/eras). At first he improved his dancing, then got into styling, developed his rocker look, started taking vocal lessons but later decided to focus on style rather than techniques, got his radio show (his first own gig). SM started giving him more vocal parts (mostly in U), the fandom started adding him to the vocal line around this time.

Again, as I don't follow Yuta closely (lives, the radio show), I can't tell you what went through his head. I just saw the changes of attitude, in his approach to things. It's obvious he still has many insecurities/inner turmoils, but at a time he was worse than Taeyong, now he is confident enough to launch his jewellery line, try a genre he likes. Frankly, what he is doing is still rooted in that old feeling of inedequacy, personal weakness. But well, we all work on our psychological problems one step at a time.

127 didn't become a family right away. Even they acknowledged that because of the pressure of the first years to make it, non-stop work they didn't have time to get to know each other well, on a deeper level. There were fewer individual bonds (one-on-one, separately to the group as a collective) among the members than today.

Heh, let me touch on one topic. Yuta is a person who easily develops crushes. He positively reacts to anyone who shows him attention and takes care of him. So to this day I wonder if he ever had a crush on Doyoung. However slight. He is the only member who actively cleares from Jae's way and never tries to usurp Do's attention when the guy is in the room. Yuta likes to tease, JaeYu have their own playful dynamic, so this level of regard to Jae's rights as a boyfriend is unusual.

If Johnny is Do's open fanboy, Yuta is his hidden. He listened to his OSTs and urged him to "do what you want" (back when Do was on the brink of taking matters in his hands with SM, but still hesitated).

Oh, Pinterest gave me a screenshot from an interview in 2018 that was the moment I felt the shift. I don't remember particulars anymore, maybe Yuta said he liked Do's voice/thinks he is a good vocalist, or smth. Do was surprised.

And from then onwards it was easy to see Do being progressively touchy with Yuta in a caressing, bonding way (playing with his necklaces, hair, half-hugging, etc).

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Gongmyung goes to new shows and continues to talk about Do buying him a car. "Because Doyoung asked me to".

I have no doubt Do asked him to. At a first glance it may seem scheming and conniving. Oh, he does good deeds to appear nice. No, he buys presents on the spot (GM said he paid after hearing about GM finging himself a car, in the past he bought Hyuk expensive sneakers after maknae pointed at them in a shop) because he understands success as an ability to treat others. He feels accomplished because he can shower others with presents, that's the value of money for him, while he himself uses an old car and doesn't care for luxury items (he still will buy expensive supplements, but that's for health, not appearence).

That being said, Doyoung demands to be thanked (for others to express their gratitude, he hates being taken for granted) and he likes to kill two birds with one stone. So if the car can work towards his positive reputation and for him to still be mentioned while he is in the military - it is a smarter approach to boast.

Importantly, the story is benefitial for both brothers. The younger Kim is mentioned, the older Kim, who struggles with coming up with content, has an entertaining story to tell. One that audience will remember, will talk about, spread on socmed. Both brothers have been helping each others' careers in variety through constant mention of each other. They are a rare case of successful celebrety siblings. GM fans get to know Do, Do's fans get to know GM. It is easier to memorise them on a show, as varietydols.