MARK Lee, a member of the K-pop group NCT, will leave the group and his agency SM Entertainment after 10 years.
Contract termination
His departure will take effect on April 8, marking the end of his exclusive contract and his activities across all NCT units, including NCT 127 and NCT DREAM, SM Entertainment said in a Weverse statement.
The decision was reached after “careful and thoughtful discussion” about the artist’s future, describing the split as mutual.
“Since his debut with NCT in 2016, MARK has demonstrated exceptional talent and versatility through both group and solo activities and has delivered remarkable performances over the years. We are truly grateful for the time he spent with us, and we wholeheartedly support him as he begins a new chapter in his journey,” SM Entertainment added.
After his debut, the 26-year-old became one of NCT’s most prominent members, participating in multiple subunits and global promotions. He released his first solo album, ‘The Firstfruit,’ in 2025.
SM Entertainment confirmed that NCT will continue activities with adjusted lineups: NCT 127 as a seven-member group consisting of JOHNNY, TAEYONG, YUTA, DOYOUNG, JAEHYUN, JUNGWOO, and HAECHAN, and NCT DREAM as a six-member group with RENJUN, JENO, HAECHAN, JAEMIN, CHENLE, and JISUNG.
“SM Entertainment will continue to fully support the activities of the NCT members, and we will do our best to honor the continued love and support from fans,” the K-pop agency concluded.
MARK’s handwritten message
In a hand-penned note shared in Korean and English with fans on Instagram, the Canadian-born K-pop star expressed gratitude and acknowledged both excitement and uncertainty about the next stage of his career. Here is the full message:
“Out of all the things my heart wants to say right now, I truly wish to say thank you. Thank you for loving, supporting, and shaping me to become who I am today. I truly believe that our hearts have better sight than our eyes, and what my heart sees right now isn’t a closing door but rather an opening new one.
I hope our next chapter together could be where we are all healthily smiling about the past, welcoming the present, and being excited for what’s to come. It’s a quest that I myself am scared about, but I know that it’s not for the worst. If I had ever done something right to have gained your trust over the last decade, I hope you believe me when I say that I’m not doing this just for fun….”
“I will never forget the pieces of love and truth each and every Czennie gave me. I’m not playing here, and I am for sure not playing with your guys’ hearts… You guys make me want to be a better person, and I hope my decisions in life can only become a positive impact to anyone watching. I’m truly and always thinking about you guys and I’ll really be working very, very hard to make it all make sense.
Love you all so much.…
See you.”
News of MARK’s exit comes shortly after NCT Dream concluded their ‘THE DREAM SHOW 4 : FUTURE THE DREAM’ tour on March 29, 2026, in Seoul.