Ten (singer)

Thai singer (born 1996) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ten (singer)

Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul (Thai: ชิตพล ลี้ชัยพรกุล; RTGS: Chittaphon Lichaiyaphonkun; pronounced [tɕʰít.tàʔ.pʰon líː.tɕʰaj.jáʔ.pʰɔːn.kun]; born February 27, 1996), known professionally as Ten (Thai: เตนล์, Korean: ), is a Thai singer, dancer, and rapper based in South Korea and China. He debuted with South Korean boy band NCT in 2016 as part of its first sub-unit, NCT U. Since 2019, he has been active mainly as a member of NCT's China-based unit WayV and the South Korean supergroup SuperM. Ten has also released several solo singles through the SM Station project: "Dream in a Dream" (2017), "New Heroes" (2018), "Paint Me Naked" (2021), and "Birthday" (2022). He made his solo debut in February 2024 with his eponymous extended play.[1]

Quick Facts Born, Alma mater ...
Ten
เตนล์
Thumb
Ten in November 2020
Born
Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul

(1996-02-27) February 27, 1996 (age 29)
Bangkok, Thailand
Alma materShrewsbury International School
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • rapper
Musical career
OriginSouth Korea
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2013–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly ofSM Rookies
WebsiteOfficial website
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Yǒngqīn
Wade–GilesLi Yung Ch'in
Korean name
Hangul이영흠
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Yeong-heum
McCune–ReischauerI Yŏnghŭm
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Early life

Ten was born in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 27, 1996, to a Thai Chinese family.[2] He studied at the Shrewsbury International School.[3]

In January 2011, at the age of 15, Ten competed on the Thai show Teen Superstar, under the stage name TNT. He won and earned an opportunity to sign a contract with the South Korean agency Starship Entertainment, although his family did not allow him to go.[4] He ultimately joined SM Entertainment in 2013 after passing an SM Global Audition in Thailand.[2][4]

Career

Summarize
Perspective

2013–2015: Pre-debut activities

On December 24, 2013, Ten was introduced as a member of SM Rookies, a pre-debut team composed of trainees under SM Entertainment.[5] In 2014, he and future groupmates appeared on the Mnet-produced Exo 90:2014, a show starring labelmates Exo, [6]where they danced to K-pop songs from the '90s. He also participated in the music video remake of G.o.d's "To Mother".[citation needed] In July 2015, Ten and fellow trainee Jaehyun competed in the Hope Basketball All-Star with SM Town, a charity match held by Hope Basketball All-Star Organizing Committee.[7]

2016–2018: Career beginnings and debut with NCT U

On April 3, 2016, Ten was confirmed to debut alongside Jaehyun, Mark, Taeyong, and Doyoung as NCT U, the first sub-unit of SM Entertainment's then-upcoming boy group NCT. The rotational unit debuted with the digital single "The 7th Sense", released on April 8. It was the first release of NCT overall.[8][9] Three months after his debut, Ten participated in Mnet's dance competition show Hit the Stage alongside other K-pop dancers such as Hyoyeon of Girls' Generation, Taemin of Shinee, Momo of Twice, among others.[10] Teaming up with dance crew Prepix, he won the uniform challenge on the sixth episode.[11] In January 2017, Ten joined the cast of SBS' program, Real Class: Elementary School Teacher, which showed foreign K-pop idols learning the Korean language from elementary students, hosted by Kang Ho-dong.[12]

On April 7, 2017, Ten released his first solo digital single as part of SM The Performance and through season two of the SM Station project, titled "Dream in a Dream".[13] He concluded the season with the single "New Heroes" on April 6, 2018, which he performed for the first time at the SM Town Live World Tour VI in Dubai that day.[14] The songs peaked at number five and four on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales, respectively.[15][16] "Dream in a Dream" was included in NCT's first studio album, NCT 2018 Empathy.[14] For the album, Ten also participated in NCT U's single "Baby Don't Stop", a duet with Taeyong,[17] and joined the rest of NCT 2018 members for the dance-focused single "Black On Black".[18]

2019–2020: Debuts with WayV and SuperM

On December 31, 2018, Ten was announced to join WayV, NCT's China-based unit managed by Label V, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, alongside Kun, Winwin, Lucas, Hendery, Xiaojun, and Yangyang.[19] The group debuted on January 17, 2019 with the digital extended play (EP) The Vision and Chinese version of NCT 127's "Regular" as its lead single.[20]

On July 16, 2019, Food Truck Battle started its broadcast on Thailand channel PPTV with Ten as the MC. The show also had a week-late broadcast on the show's official YouTube channel. It featured both Thai and Korean celebrities such as Nam Tae-hyun, Park Ye-eun, Kitty Chica, and James Teeradon.[21] In August, Ten was announced to join Taemin of Shinee, Baekhyun and Kai of EXO, Taeyong and Mark of NCT 127, and Lucas as a member of SuperM, a male K-pop supergroup created by SM Entertainment and Capitol Records with activities primarily aimed at the American market.[22][23] The group released their self-titled debut EP on October 4, 2019, and became the first Asian artist to rank number one on the US Billboard 200 with a debut release.[24] They subsequently toured North America, Latin America, and Europe from November 2019 to February 2020.[24][25][26]

In September 2020, SM Entertainment announced that all units of NCT would unite to release a two-part second full album, NCT 2020 Resonance.[27] In the first part, Ten participated in the B-side tracks "Faded In My Last Song" as a member of NCT U and "Nectar" with WayV.[28][29] In the second part, Ten was the only member to participate in both title tracks, "90's Love" and "Work It".[30]

2021–present: Sub-unit debut and solo activities

In August 2021, Ten released his third solo single under the SM Station project, titled "Paint Me Naked"[31] and debuted as part of WayV's second sub-unit named WayV-Ten & Yangyang with the single "Low Low".[32] On October 25, Ten appeared as a special judge for the wild card round of the fourth season of the dance competition show Street Dance of China.[33] Ten later participated in the recording of NCT's third studio album Universe, released on December 14.[34] He appeared on four songs: "OK!" and "Round&Round" as NCT U, as well as "Miracle" with WayV and "Beautiful" with NCT 2021.[35]

In April 2022, Ten joined Santa [ja] of Into1, Wang Feifei and Cheng Xiao as a team leader for Youku's female-centric dance competition show, Great Dance Crew.[36][37] In October, Ten starred the second season of Food Truck Battle alongside groupmate Yangyang of WayV, Woodz, Janistar Phomphadungcheep, Prem Warut, and Boun Noppanut on Channel 8.[38] He also released the R&B dance digital single "Birthday" in the same month, as part of SM Station's sub-project NCT Lab.[39]

In December 2023, Ten was announced as one of the mentors for Chuang Asia: Thailand.[40]

Ten made his solo debut with his eponymous extended play in February 2024, with the lead single "Nightwalker". He embarked on a fan concert tour titled 1001.[41][42]

In August 2024, Ten was announced as one of the directors for Universe League.[43]

Fashion and endorsements

In June 2021, Ten was approached by the direct-to-fan retailer Represent and launched a five-piece apparel collection featuring his original artworks, titled "What is ??? The Answers".[44][45]

On March 7, 2024, French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent appointed Ten as a brand ambassador.[46][47] In May, South Korean cosmetic brand Banobagi has announced Ten as brand model in Asia.[48] In June, Ten became brand spokesperson of Maybelline.[49]

Personal life

Ten is multilingual and speaks Thai, English, Korean, and Mandarin.[44] In 2018, Ten received an official exemption from Thailand's mandatory military service after failing to pass the physical exam due to his past injury and knee surgery.[50]

Discography

Extended plays

Korean extended plays

More information Title, Details ...
List of Korean extended plays, with selected details, chart positions and sales
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[51]
JPN
[52]
JPN
Comb.

[53]
JPN
Hot

[54]
UK
Dig.

[55]
Ten 361052
Stunner
  • Released: March 24, 2025
  • Label: SM
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
21827
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Japanese extended plays

More information Title, Details ...
List of Japanese extended plays, with selected details, chart positions and sales
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
[52]
Humanity
  • Released: April 23, 2025
  • Label: Avex Trax
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
TBA
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Singles

As lead artist

More information Title, Year ...
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and sales, showing album name and year released
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
THL
[60]
KOR
[61]
JPN
Hot
UK Dig.
[62]
US
World

[63]
"Dream in a Dream" (夢中夢/몽중몽)[A]
2017 5 NCT 2018 Empathy
"New Heroes"[A] 2018 4 Non-album singles
"Paint Me Naked"[B] 2021 [a][b]
"Low Low"
(with YangYang as WayV-Ten&Yangyang)
[c][d]
"Birthday"[C] 2022 [e][f]
"Nightwalker" 2024 12156 Ten
"Stunner" 2025 11102 Stunner
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
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Japanese singles

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Album
"Silence" 2025 Humanity
Close
More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Peak chart position Album
KOR
Down.

[70]
"The Riot"
(DJ Ginjo featuring Ten and Xiaojun of WayV)
2020 Non-album singles
"Obsession"
(Minnie featuring Ten of WayV)
2024 42 Her
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Soundtrack appearances

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Peak chart
positions
Album
KOR
[71]
"Swipe" (Prod. by C-Young, Alawn)
(with Taeyong)
2023 199 Street Woman Fighter 2 OST Part 2
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Other charted songs

More information Title, Year ...
List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions and sales, showing album name and year released
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
Down.

[72]
UK
Dig.

[73]
"Dangerous" 2024 49 Ten
"Water" 50
"Shadow" 52
"On Ten" 53
"Lie with You" 61
"Bambola" 2025 143 Stunner
"Stunner" (English Ver.) 160
"Waves" 174
"Butterfly" 183
"Enough For Me" 186
"Sweet As Sin" 196
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Filmography

Television

More information Year, Title ...
Ten's television credits
Year Title Role Note Ref.
2011 Teen Superstar Contestant, winner Under the stage name TNT [4]
2016 Hit the Stage Contestant Winner of the Uniform challenge (Ep.6) [10][11]
2017 Elementary School Teacher Cast member 3rd place [12]
2019 Food Truck Battle MC [21]
2022 Great Dance Crew Team leader [36]
Food Truck Battle Season 2 MC [38]
2024 Chuang Asia: Thailand Mentor [40]
Universe League Director [43]
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Web series

More information Year, Title ...
Ten's web series credits
Year Title Role Ref.
2023 Hwaiting Season 2 Cast member [74][unreliable source?]
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Music videos

As lead artist

More information Title, Year ...
List of music videos as lead artist showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Change"
(As TNT from Teen Superstar)
2010 Un­known
"Dream in a Dream" 2017 Lee Jun-woo (Saltfilm) [75]
"New Heroes" 2018 Jinooya [76]
"Paint Me Naked" 2021 Kwon Yong-soo (Saccharin Film) [77]
"Low Low"
(with YangYang of WayV-Ten&Yangyang)
Chung Ki-youl (Digipedi) [78]
"Birthday" 2022 Lee Yong-seok
(What's Worth Studio)
[79]
"Nightwalker" 2024 Kim Young
(Aedia Studio)
[80]
"Bambola" 2025 Hong Jae-hwan, Lee Hye-su
(Swisher Film)
[81]
"Stunner" Kim Young(YVNG WING)
(IDIOTS)
[82]
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As featuring artist

More information Title, Year ...
List of music videos as featuring artist showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"The Riot"
(DJ Ginjo featuring Ten, Xiaojun of WayV)
2020 Aezik (Madscene) [83]
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Awards and nominations

More information Award ceremony, Year ...
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Asia Artist Awards 2024 Best Choice – Music Himself Won [84]
Mint Magazine Awards 2023 Inspiration Award Won [85]
Mnet Japan Fan's Choice Awards 2021 Male Rookie of the Year Nominated [86][87]
Thailand Headlines Person of the Year Awards 2017 Most Popular Award Won [88]
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Notes

  1. "Paint Me Naked" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 34 on the Gaon Download Chart.[64]
  2. "Paint Me Naked" did not enter the Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart.[65]
  3. "Low Low" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 56 on the Gaon Download Chart.[66]
  4. "Low Low" did not enter the Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart.[67]
  5. "Birthday" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 43 on the Circle Download Chart.[68]
  6. "Birthday" did not enter the Japan Hot 100, but peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart.[69]
  1. As part of SM Station Season 2 project
  2. As part of SM Station Season 4 project
  3. As part of SM Station NCT Lab project

References

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