Mark Exits SM Entertainment and NCT After 10-Year Contract Ends

Mark will conclude his 10-year exclusive contract with SM Entertainment on April 3 and leave NCT. In a letter posted on his personal account, he stated that he decided to go independent in order to explore his musical possibilities further.

SM Entertainment officially announced on April 3 that its exclusive contract with Mark would end on April 8. As a result, Mark will cease all activities related to NCT 127 and NCT DREAM. SM Entertainment expressed its support, saying, “We sincerely wish Mark the best as he leaves the group to pursue new challenges.”

In his personal account letter, Mark wrote, “Since it is the time to end my 10-year contract, I decided to awaken all the feelings I’ve had inside me. After much consideration, I became genuinely curious about what the exact vision of that dream might look like, and I wanted to dive in fully.” He also added, “My beginning was with SM, with NCT, and with SHINee. No matter what kind of music I do, I will always remain the Mark who never forgets his origins. I most want to express my deepest gratitude to all SHINee members and to everyone who has known me and supported me until now. Thank you so much.”

Mark first became known to the public in 2013 through SM Rookies. After debuting in 2016 as part of NCT U, NCT 127, and NCT DREAM, he served as a core member of the group for approximately 10 years. He was particularly iconic, earning the nickname “NCT civil servant” for his active participation in various sub-units. Following Mark’s departure, NCT 127 will continue with seven members: Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jungwoo, Haechan, and Jeno, while NCT DREAM will proceed with six members: Renjun, Jisung, Jaehyun, Rowoon, Donghae, and Chenle.

Along with news of Mark’s departure, rumors about other members leaving have also surfaced. A post containing screenshots of deleted content claimed that not only Mark but also Tendo would leave SM Entertainment. However, this information remains unverified as just a rumor, and reactions among fans are mixed.