Today (July 3), Mark Lee, member of South Korean boy group NCT, announced that he has terminated his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment and is leaving the group. Both NCT 127 and NCT DREAM will undergo lineup changes. In fact, speculation about Mark’s departure had already emerged during the encore concert a few days ago.
With Mark’s departure, NCT 127 will now be promoted as a 7-member group: Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Yunyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan. Meanwhile, NCT DREAM will continue as a 6-member group: Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung.
At NCT DREAM’s encore concert in Seoul on March 29, many fans sensed an emotional vibe from both Mark and the members. While performing “Rainbow,” Mark suddenly lowered his head and burst into tears. Renjun came over to hug him and started crying too, while Haechan crouched down and cried too. Jisung was overcome with emotion during his solo performance of “My Youth,” and Jeno and Jaemin helped him off the stage.
The members’ tears during the concert sparked widespread discussion, with many speculating that it was related to Mark’s contract situation. Now that his departure has been officially confirmed, fans are heartbroken.
Mark also shared a handwritten letter on Instagram, reflecting on his 10 years since debuting with NCT U. He said he has accumulated countless memories and now he has made a new decision. While the news shocked fans (NCTzens), he revealed that he had long dreamed of playing guitar on the street. He also enjoys writing in English and once thought of becoming a writer.
Over the past decade, Mark has continuously worked to better understand himself and become a better version of who he is. “I have always moved forward with a sincere love for music, and I believe this is the most precious thing about these last 10 years.” However, the questions of what kind of music he really wants to create and what stories he wants to tell have become clearer.
“Even though I don’t know exactly what it will be like, I hope to truly discover my musical style and share it with the world.”
Sources: Yahoo News
