In 2016, NCT U debuted with the digital singles "The 7th Sense" and "Without You", which didn't gain immediate commercial success.

However, “The 7th Sense” received attention from music critics for its unpredictability and uniqueness, with the platform Melon putting it a number 50 on its list “Top 100 K-pop Songs of All Time”.

[3] With the release of their third EP Cherry Bomb, NCT 127 received various nominations, including for Album of the Year at the 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards, for the second quarter, while the lead single of the same name received nominations for Best Pop Song at the 14th Korean Music Awards and for Best Dance Performance — Male Group at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

NCT Dream's second EP We Go Up earned them a nomination for Album of the Year at the 9th Gaon Chart Music Awards, for the third quarter.

NCT Dream's lead single for their fourth EP Reload, "Ridin", earned them a nomination for Best Dance Male at the 2020 Melon Music Awards.