Xiaojun
A Chinese vocalist with a crystalline tenor who found stardom in South Korea as a key member of the expansive NCT universe.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Chinese singer and actor·Birthday: August 8·Generation Z
Biography
Xiaojun, born Xiao Dejun in Guangdong, China, took a path less traveled to pop stardom. Trained in vocal performance, he was discovered by SM Entertainment and moved to Seoul to become a trainee. In 2019, he debuted as a member of WayV, the Chinese sub-unit of the sprawling K-pop collective NCT, where his powerful, emotive voice immediately became a cornerstone of the group's sound. His technical skill, honed through years of study, allowed him to handle challenging high notes and ballads with a clarity that set him apart. Beyond group activities, he has showcased his versatility through solo singing projects and acting roles, building a dedicated international fanbase drawn to his vocal prowess and earnest personality. His journey represents the modern, borderless model of pop artistry.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Xiaojun was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Xiaojun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Xiaojun's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as a main vocalist of the South Korean-Chinese boy group WayV under the NCT system.
- Released successful solo singles like 'If I Leave' and 'Time After Time' that highlight his vocal range.
- Acted in the Chinese web series 'When I Fly Towards You'.
- Performed as part of the NCT supergroup subunit NCT U on several tracks.
Did You Know?
He studied vocal performance at the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy.
He is known for his love of cooking and often shares meals he prepares.
He is a fan of the Taiwanese singer Jay Chou.
His nickname within WayV is 'Xiaojun Cat' due to his feline-like features.
“Every note is a choice, and every choice must serve the song.”
