Serial Departures of K-Pop Idols Within a Month, Driven by Contract Terms and Creative Aspirations

Recent consecutive departures of key idols from their groups within the K-Pop industry have drawn significant attention. Industry insiders analyze this trend not as simple personal choices but as a result of structural changes in the industry, including contract terms, creative aspirations, and the pursuit of individual careers.

Heeseung of Enhypen officially announced on March 10 that he would leave the group to pursue a solo career through Belift Lab. His agency explained that after “in-depth discussions” regarding the group’s direction and each member’s future, they decided to respect Heeseung’s unique musical interests. A few weeks after announcing his departure, Heeseung hinted at plans to prepare a solo album, showing his determination to explore new musical paths.

Members of NCT under SM Entertainment have also repeatedly refused to renew their contracts. Mark posted a statement in both Korean and English on Instagram on April 2, revealing that he would end his activities with NCT and all of its sub-units. In the statement, Mark expressed gratitude for the past 10 years and described it as the beginning of a new chapter. Ten refused to renew his contract that same month but agreed to continue working with NCT and WayV under a new agency after coordinating with SM Entertainment. Ten stated in his statement that the time spent with NCT and WayV since his debut in 1996 was “truly precious and a happy memory,” adding that as he entered his 30s, he began asking new questions about who he is.

Mark and Ten had accumulated about 10 years of experience since their debut as NCT U in 2016, with April of this year being the deadline for contract renewal. An executive from a major entertainment company explained, “Members who have been in the industry for over 10 years tend to seek new paths. Before debuting, joining a group is the priority, but over time—especially after completing military service—the desire to pursue an individual career grows stronger.”

Creative aspirations are also cited as a major factor behind these departures. The same executive added, “Management ultimately has to focus on profitability and meet fan demands, but not all members are satisfied with that direction. As their careers extend, it becomes harder to compromise due to mismatches with the current group’s activity focus.” K-Pop groups often operate under a standard contract term of 7 years recommended by the government, but NCT is known to sign longer-term contracts due to its project-based structure.

Alongside these departures, a pattern referred to among K-Pop fans as the “7-member curse” is being discussed. This refers to the observation that groups that start with 7 members tend to experience member changes over time. With Mark’s departure, NCT Dream was reduced to a group of 6 members. In contrast, BTS and GOT7 are cited as exceptional cases that have maintained their original 7-member structure.