Mark Lee leaves NCT, SM Entertainment
Mark Lee of NCT is leaving the K-pop boy group and their agency, SM Entertainment.
SM Entertainment announced the news in a statement on Friday, April 3.
"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to fans who always send NCT their unwavering support," it began.
"After a long period of in-depth discussions with Mark regarding the direction of his future activities and following adequate conversations between both parties, we came to a mutual agreement to conclude his exclusive contract as of April 8. Accordingly, Mark will end all NCT activities, including NCT 127 and NCT DREAM," it continued.
According to SM Entertainment, Mark has "demonstrated outstanding abilities not only in group promotions but also as a solo artist" since NCT debuted in 2016. "We would like to convey our gratitude for the valuable time we have shared together, and we sincerely cheer on Mark as he leaves the team and begins a new leap forward."
His agency said that NCT 127 will continue its activities with Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan, while NCT DREAM will do the same with Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung.
"We will continue to spare no effort in providing our full support for the activities of the NCT members, and we will do our utmost even more for the fans who continue to love NCT without change," it said.
'All I feel is gratitude'
Mark also penned a letter to his fans, which he shared on Instagram. It was in Korean, and K-entertainment site Soompi provided an English translation.
"I know this may feel very sudden to everyone… But in fact, ever since my trainee days—or maybe even before that—I’ve always carried a dream in my heart. I dreamed of traveling around with just an acoustic guitar, busking on the streets, and I loved writing in English so much that I even wanted to become a writer," he wrote. "I was too young to fully understand that dream clearly or picture it perfectly in my head, but because I loved music and the stage, I auditioned in Canada 14 years ago, and at SM, I began my musical journey for the first time as part of NCT."
For the K-pop idol, spending his "firsts" with SM and NCT helped him "know myself more and find the very best version of myself."
"All I feel is gratitude," he mused.
"Through NCT, it feels like I’ve been able to experience the sky, the land, the sea, and the mountains all in the greatest way. After spending 10 years seeing and experiencing the world at its fullest and going on the best journey, I think I naturally began to wonder: What is the best dream I can possibly dream? What is the greatest work and purpose I can have, living my life as a person named Mark?" he went on.
"And since this is the time when my 10-year contract is coming to an end, I awakened every sense I’d been carrying in my heart and thought about it for a long time. In the end, I found myself truly curious about what the exact, fully realized shape of that dream might be—and I wanted to dive in and devote myself to it properly. I think I’ve come to truly want to find, clearly and for real, what my music—or my 'fruit'—will be and how I can bring it into fruition in this world and to make that happen no matter what."
He expressed his gratitude to everyone who paved the path for him, including their training team, instructors, the company, the managers, the directors, the executives, and staff in every department. According to him, they "helped me grow into who I am today."
"But… no matter how big a decision I’ve made, I truly understand that it doesn’t automatically ease everyone’s worries, concerns, and hardship just because it’s 'a big challenge' that I’m taking on alone. I know that announcing a major decision for a new chapter in my life cannot soften—through this one handwritten letter alone—the change that could come as a huge shock and hurt to Czennies who have loved me as 'NCT’s Mark,' to Mark fans, and to the general public. That’s why my heart feels so heavy," he continued.
He also apologized to his supporters for his decision. "I’m so sorry that the result of all those long deliberations has ultimately led to this situation, which may seem so inadequate, and my heart feels very heavy."
"I thought that what I can do in this situation—especially for you, Czennies, whom I’m most grateful to—is to convey my genuine, sincere feelings. And when I looked into my heart, I realized that at the end of that sincerity, more than anything else, what I most wanted to express was my gratitude," he said.
"I will carry a grateful heart for SM, the NCT members, and Czennies for the rest of my life," he added. "So that when I greet you again in the future with a new side of myself, I can be a Mark you can be proud of, I will do my absolute best—beyond my best—and work as hard as I can. Once again, thank you so much."
NCT 127's hit songs include Kick It, Favorite, and Cherry Bomb, while NCT Dream's beloved tracks are Smoothie, Candy, and BOOM, among others.
