A contestant on the ongoing SM Entertainment boy group survival project 'NCT Universe : LASTART' is garnering attention for his surprising family!

According to media outlet reports on August 4 KST, contestant Ryu from 'NCT Universe : LASTART' is the younger brother of well-known Japanese idol/actor Shirahama Alan, a member of the J-pop group Generations from Exile Tribe. Ryu, born on October 20, 2003, is 10 years younger than his brother Shirahama Alan, who was born on August 4, 1993. 

['NCT Universe : LASTART' contestant Ryu:]

[Shirahama Alan:]

Meanwhile, Ryu also recently piqued the interest of the directors on 'NCT Universe : LASTART' by revealing that he was chosen to participate in the survival show after being a trainee at SM Entertainment for only 2 weeks. Well, it turns out, his older brother has been a huge star in the Japanese entertainment industry for nearly 10 years!

Only 4 of the 10 competing trainees on 'NCT Universe : LASTART' will be selected to debut in the new and final NCT unit, NCT Tokyo. Do you think Ryu will make it and successfully follow in the footsteps of his older brother?