Mark Lee’s Contract with SM Ends on April 8, Marking the End of 10 Years in NCT

SM Entertainment announced in an official statement on the 5th that its exclusive contract with Mark Lee will conclude on April 8. The 26-year-old artist will cease all group activities with groups such as NCT 127 and NCT Dream starting from that date.

Mark Lee, who has been active in the K-pop industry for about 10 years since his debut in NCT in 2016, was a key member who witnessed the growth of the Korean K-pop sector. In the statement, SM said, “Mark demonstrated outstanding talent and versatility since his debut, achieving remarkable results through both group and solo activities,” adding that they will fully support him as he embarks on a new chapter.

In addition to NCT 127 and NCT Dream, Mark Lee was also a member of SM’s supergroup Super M. He recently concluded NCT Dream’s world tour and officially launched his solo career in April of last year with the release of his first solo album, “The Firstfirst.”

Following the end of his contract, NCT 127 will continue as a group of seven members: Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan. NCT Dream will be reformed with six members: Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung.

Mark Lee shared a message of gratitude to his fans through Instagram. He said, “Of everything my heart wants to express right now, I truly want to say thank you. I am grateful for everyone who has loved me, supported me, and helped shape who I am today,” adding, “I will never forget the love and genuine moments given to me by Czennie, NCT’s fandom name.” He also added, “You inspire me to become a better person. I hope the decisions I make in life will have a positive impact on everyone who sees them.”