On March 26, 2025, Sports Seoul reported that Taeyong, a member of the popular K-pop group NCT, is set to serve as a narrator for an upcoming documentary while currently fulfilling his mandatory military duties in the Navy.
The documentary, titled Codename 1950 – Cruise, is a collaborative effort between South Korea and the United States that delves into eight decades of naval history. A significant focus will be on Admiral Son Won-il, recognized as the founding figure of the South Korean Navy.
This insightful documentary will also feature accounts from veterans of the Baekdusan conflict, shed light on frontline operations, Naval Academy training programs, and detail the construction of cutting-edge Aegis ships, enriching viewers’ understanding of naval advancements.
Taeyong enlisted on April 15, 2024, as part of the 702nd batch of active-duty naval personnel. With his unique perspective from military service, he aims to share the commitment of his predecessors and the enthusiasm of younger servicemen, as noted by Sports Seoul.
Codename 1950 – Cruise is set to premiere on KBS1 Documentary at 10:25 PM KST on March 29, 2025.
Exploring Taeyong’s Musical Journey and Solo Endeavors
Lee Tae-yong, more widely known as Taeyong, is the leader of the acclaimed boy band NCT, under the management of SM Entertainment. He first gained fame in 2016 with the debut of NCT-U and later became the leader of NCT 127 that same year. In 2019, he joined the superstar ensemble SuperM, a groundbreaking collaboration between SM Entertainment and Capitol Records.
Over his career, Taeyong has made substantial contributions, writing over 40 songs in multiple languages for NCT’s various units and as a solo artist. Notably, he began releasing solo material on his SoundCloud account, launching with his self-composed demo track, Dark Clouds, in March 2021, which also received accolades at the 2021 SoundCloud Playback Awards.
Following this, Taeyong has independently released tracks such as GTA1, GTA2, Blue, Monroe (featuring Baekhyun of EXO), Rose (featuring Seulgi of Red Velvet), and Swimming Pool. He has also showcased his talents as a judge on Street Woman Fighter, a popular Korean dance survival show, and later appeared as a guest judge on the related series Street Dance Girls Fighter with bandmate Mark.
Taeyong’s contributions extend into songwriting, serving as a co-writer for the title track of NCT 127’s third studio album, Sticker, released in September 2021. He was also involved in creating the special album track Zoo for 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express.
In March 2022, he collaborated with Suran on the song Diamond for the EP Flyin’ Part 1 and subsequently launched his YouTube channel, TY Track, where he showcased performances of his tracks, including Lonely (featuring Suran) and Ghost. He released his second official single, Love Theory, in April 2022 and became the MC for Mnet’s dance show, Any Body Can Dance, in June 2022.
Taeyong’s debut EP, Shalala, launched on June 5, 2023, and featured seven tracks, achieving tremendous commercial success with over 380,000 copies sold in its opening week. Following this, his second EP, Tap, released in February 2024, soared to the top of the iTunes Top Albums Chart across 33 countries.
Looking ahead, Taeyong is anticipated to complete his military service by December 2025, after which fans eagerly await his return to the music scene.