In this Hong Kong name, the surnameisWong. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is Lucas Wong and the Chinese-style name is Wong Yuk-hei.
Wong Yuk-hei (Chinese: 黃旭熙; born 25 January 1999), known professionally as Lucas (Korean: 루카스), is a Hong Kong rapper signed under SM Entertainment. He is a member of the supergroupSuperM, and a former member of the South Korean boy group NCT and its Chinese sub-unit WayV.
He made his solo debut on April 1, 2024, with the single album Renegade.[1]
Lucas helped run a Thai restaurant in Hong Kong owned by his parents. He visited Thailand often, at least once a year, to rest and visit his mother's family.[3][non-primary source needed]
In late 2015, Lucas was scouted by SM Entertainment after passing a Global Audition in Hong Kong.[5] As an SM trainee, Lucas received training in modelling before switching to idol preparations and learning singing, rapping, and dancing.[citation needed] On 5 April 2017, he was introduced as a member of SM Rookies, a pre-debut training team of young trainees.[citation needed] On 7 April 2017, Lucas made an appearance in NCT member Ten's "Dream In A Dream" music video.[citation needed] Lucas, whose mother tongue is Cantonese, studied Korean and Mandarin in preparation for his debut.[citation needed]
2018–2019: Debut with NCT, WayV, SuperM, and solo activities
In January 2018, SM Entertainment unveiled NCT 2018, a project group for the expansive boy group NCT.[6][7] Lucas, together with Kun and Jungwoo, were the group's newest members. The trio were introduced in SM's NCT 2018 Yearbook #1 on 30 January 2018.[8] Lucas officially made his debut with NCT on 14 March with their debut studio albumNCT 2018 Empathy.[9] Lucas recorded three songs for the album as part of the sub-unit NCT U, including title tracks "Boss," "Yestoday" (both as NCT U), and "Black on Black" (as NCT 2018).[10][11] To promote the album, Lucas appeared on Korean variety shows Real Man 300 and Law of the Jungle in Last Indian Ocean as a regular cast member.
Lucas was featured on Taeyeon's "All Night Long," a track recorded for her EPSomething New, released in June 2018. The song peaked at number 72 on the Gaon Digital Chart.
Lucas made his runway debut at Seoul Fashion Week in 2018, walking for fashion streetwear brand KYE, Charm's, and Kappa.[12]
In November 2018, SM Entertainment released the digital single "Coffee Break" by Jonah Nilsson and Lucas featuring Richard Bona for its SM Station 3 project. In December 2018, Lucas was announced as part of NCT's China-based unit WayV, managed by SM Entertainment subsidiary Label V. The seven-member unit officially debuted on 17 January 2019 with their debut single albumThe Vision. Its lead single "Regular" was the Mandarin version of "Regular" by NCT 127.[13][14][15] The following month, Lucas joined the cast of Chinese variety show Keep Running as a fixed cast member for its seventh season.[citation needed]
On 7 August 2019, Lucas was announced as a member of SuperM, a K-pop supergroup created by SM Entertainment in collaboration with Capitol Records.[citation needed] The group's promotions began in October, aimed at the American market.[16][unreliable source?][17] SuperM's self-titled debut EP was released on 4 October 2019 with lead single "Jopping".[18] On 5 October, Lucas held his first concert with SuperM at the Capitol Records BuildinginLos Angeles, preceding a world tour with stops in North America and planned stops in Europe and Asia.[19][20][21]
2020–2023: NCT 2020, Kick Back, hiatus, and departure from NCT and WayV
In October 2020, Lucas returned to perform with NCT for the first time since "Black on Black" in 2018 for the second group-wide project, NCT 2020, featuring all 23 members.[22][unreliable source?] He participated in the album Resonance Pt. 1 on the songs "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" and its English version, "Faded In My Last Song", and "Volcano" by NCT U, as well as "Nectar" by WayV.[23] He also participated in the all-members single "Resonance".[24][unreliable source?]
On 10 March 2021, WayV released their third EP, Kick Back, with the lead single of the same name.[25] The album became the group's first number one album on Gaon Album Chart.[26]
On 25 August 2021, Lucas was scheduled to release the single『Jalapeño』alongside fellow WayV member Hendery. However, following controversy arising from his alleged past relationships, SM Entertainment and Label V announced that the release, as well as its promotions, had been postponed. Lucas also announced that he would temporarily halt his activities with WayV.[27]
On 10 May 2023, SM Entertainment announced that Lucas would be departing from NCT and WayV to pursue his individual endeavours.[28]
^ abSon, Mi-kyung (1 April 2024). "루카스,오늘(1일) 솔로 데뷔..첫 싱글 'Renegade'공개" [Lucas makes solo debut today (Apr. 1)...releases first single 'Renegade']. Osen (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via Chosun Biz.
