Many third-generation boy groups have reached the stage in their careers when mandatory military service becomes part of the timeline. To maintain fan engagement and keep their music consistently relevant, groups like BTS and SEVENTEEN have either prepared solo projects in advance from enlisting members or opted to debut new sub-units from the members who aren’t required to enlist or aren’t of-age just yet.

NCT, one of SM Entertainment’s largest and most expansive groups, splits into both categories. Members JAEHYUN, DOYOUNG, and JUNGWOO are currently serving in the military after releasing their own solo projects, and MARK, YUTA, and HAECHAN also saw success with their own albums in the last two years. Now, a new sub-unit starring NCT DREAM’s JENO and JAEMIN takes center stage.

On 23 February 2026, NCT JNJM debuted with their first mini-album, BOTH SIDES. Consisting of six unique tracks that span just over 15 minutes, this project was extensively teased since its announcement on 25 January with polished concept images, enticing mood films, and a trailer that brought everything together. In this trailer, duality is the focus. From JENO and JAEMIN’s different hair colors (black and white respectively) and styling to their room decor and the activities they’re seen participating in, it’s a study in how two deceptively unalike artists can bring their differences together in order to create a cohesive mini-album that suits both parties equally.

The title track is a sleek pop number with elements of R&B within its smooth instrumental and playful vocal delivery from both JENO and JAEMIN. It opens with a conversation between the two in which JAEMIN recalls a girl approaching him to ask for a photo. When she asked him which side of his face was his “best side” for their selfie, he quickly said “It's both sides.” Not only does this one line introduce the title and overall narrative of the mini-album, but it also speaks to the unadulterated confidence these two hold within towards their outer and inner selves – something that’s warranted after nearly a decade of success.

Fans of NCT and more casual listeners would likely be able to name each member’s most recognizable or attractive feature. As it turns out, the idols themselves pay enough attention to online discourse or verbal compliments to know their own physical strengths as well. In verse one, JENO matter-of-factly states: “Climb on, my nose bridge like a slide for you.” Similarly, verse two sees JAEMIN highlighting how his “big smile makes you laugh.” Both of these lines cheekily play into fans’ most discussed details when it comes to a new photograph or video featuring these idols. These features and other attributes are highlighted both lyrically and visually within the track’s music video that underscores the self-aware playfulness of those lines.

“BOTH SIDES” as a title and a complete song allow both idols to create their own definition of confidence – one that embraces their differences as individuals and as a duo. By playing up specific traits that K-pop fans are highly aware of without even being NCTzens, JENO and JAEMIN lay all their cards out on the table. Each chorus sees them brushing aside comparison and turning the focus to those keen to critique idols like them: “Compare all you want, it's fine / Which one is your best side?” On the surface, the line plays with comparison between the two, but it also subtly reframes the act of comparison itself – shifting the focus back onto the listener.

No one likes being compared to someone else in a degrading way, and comparison typically leads to major self-deprecation. Here, JENO and JAEMIN open the floor to those listening to stop limiting themselves. Why choose one side when you possess enough confidence to know your own self-worth when it comes to such surface-level things as physical attractiveness? Allow yourself to choose both sides and, if one really can’t decide between the options proposed in this track, the perfect solution is presented in the final pre-chorus: “If you want, we can go on a double date.”

The playfulness of BOTH SIDES directly builds from both JENO and JAEMIN’s own personalities. Neither idol is known for their stone-cold persona besides the occasional stage, so these tracks are likely what fans imagined they’d create when put together. “I.D.O.L.” couldn’t be more direct about diving even deeper into their highly visible world of tours and constant public attention.

Where “BOTH SIDES” encouraged fans to admit their attraction to both members’ in all their differences, “I.D.O.L.” promises to use this title to make their romantic partner’s life more extraordinary. When they say “I will show you all my sides,” they’re spinning the mini-album’s theme to match the glamorized life of idols while also playing into listeners’ fantasies of getting that close to an idol. It’s exposing in a way for those who thought their innermost desires were locked away in their minds, but it’s also telling of how aware the industry and its artists are of these details – especially when it comes to crafting a concept guaranteed to attract fans.

The side of both artists being portrayed in this track is that of two idols experiencing a high enough level of fame to recognize how sought after they’ve become to fans and insiders alike. JENO directly acknowledges this song title as “the title that suits me,” and goes on to describe himself to listeners as “the I.D.O.L. you have been wishing for” – lines that lean directly into fan fantasy with deliberate awareness.

“What It Is” drags the mini-album into darker, more intimate territory. Featuring a co-writing credit from JAEMIN, it starts off with a sped-up introduction that transitions into a more R&B/hip-hop-inspired instrumental that bounces under their vocals and quick-paced rap verses. Describing a view they’ve “never seen before” and something that’s translated “even without words,” it’s clear without much of a translation that this track is rooted in sensual territory that felt inevitable following pre-release visuals that leaned heavily into a more intimate, stylised aesthetic. The sides featured here are undeniably the more intimate side of everyone that’s only revealed to those invited into their most private spaces.

“HASHTAG” does something similar with an even deeper, slower-paced instrumental, while “sexier,” the mini-album’s closing track, speeds things up to an almost electronic sound. Rather than briefly touch on sensual themes, the mini-album explores them across multiple sonic textures – two members of NCT known for their flirty on-stage personas that contrast their more sweet personalities off the stage. Each track builds off of the same subjects while depicting them in three different sonic presentations. “HASHTAG” leans into a deep vocal and rap delivery from the idols that transitions well from “What It Is,” and “sexier” feels incredibly playful in its invitation to listeners to allow their interest to grow slowly rather than rushing into things.

Before coming to a complete close, however, “WIND UP” brings BOTH SIDES around into its most motivational moment that looks inward to encourage listeners to face their biggest worries and fears in order to grow into their truest self. Lyrics like “Don't stop I'm on your side” and “The fail and deep worries that tormented you / Face them boldly, fight, how about we do it together” turns the mini-album’s title into a declaration of support rather than a physical attribute of individuals. There’s no need to choose a side or show off one side of yourself. Here, they pledge their loyalty to anyone struggling through life’s most common hurdles with full confidence.

At this point, it’s no surprise how strong NCT’s members are as well-rounded idols. Whether it’s within a larger group setting, a smaller sub-unit, or a solo track, these artists demonstrate a consistent sense of self across formats. NCT JNJM is not only the latest sub-unit out of NCT’s 26-member roster – it’s a focused exploration of JENO and JAEMIN’s self-assurance as idols and everyday people that showcases their own distinct sides in each track.