Mark Lee Leaves NCT After 10 Years; SM Entertainment Issues Statement, Singer Pens Letter To Fans

In

what comes up as big news from K-pop industry, singerMark Lee has decided to part ways with NCT and SM Entertainment. The agency has confirmed the step taken with mutual consent and announced that Mark Lee will be leaving both the label and NCT, including its subunits NCT 127 and NCT Dream. The singer has addressed his decision of parting ways from NCT and penned a heartfelt note to NCTzens.

Mark Lee leaves NCT after 10 years of association

The 26-year-old artist’s departure was shared through a statement posted on Weverse on Friday afternoon (Korean time). The agency said that after extensive discussions about his future, both sides agreed to end his exclusive contract on April 8. With this, Mark will wrap up all activities tied to NCT and its units.Mark has been part of NCT since its launch in 2016, when the group introduced an unconventional format with multiple rotating and fixed subunits. Just days before the announcement, he and the members of NCT Dream wrapped up their world tour with a six-show run in Seoul.

Mark also addressed fans directly through Instagram and penned a heartfelt note in both Korean and English. In his letter to fans, the former NCT member admitted the news might come as a surprise. He opened up about a long-held dream from his trainee days - travelling with an acoustic guitar, busking, and writing in English, even imagining a future as a writer. Though he couldn’t fully understand that dream back then, his passion for music pushed him to audition in Canada 14 years ago, eventually leading him to SM Entertainment and his journey with NCT.Now, with his contract coming to an end, Mark shared that thoughts about stepping away had been on his mind for quite some time. As he moves ahead independently, he said he wants to explore what that dream truly means and fully dedicate himself to discovering his own musical identity and how he wants to present it to the world.He expressed both gratitude and a sense of apology towards SM Entertainment, calling the decision difficult but necessary at this stage. Mark promised fans that he would work hard to grow and come back as a better version of himself.Meanwhile, speaking about his work front, the Canadian-born rapper released his first solo album, The Firstfirst, in April 2025, a project he had earlier described as an important step in discovering himself as an artist.

In its statement, SM Entertainment acknowledged Mark’s contribution over the years and praised his versatility and strong presence in both group and solo work. The company also thanked him for his time with them and offered to help him as he moves on in his career. As per the statement, post his exit, NCT 127 will continue with seven members - Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo and Haechan - while NCT Dream will carry on as a six-member group comprising Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung.