K-pop artist Mark Lee has officially parted ways with SM Entertainment, ending his exclusive contract on April 8, 2026 and ending his membership in NCT, NCT 127 and NCT Dream after a decade with the company.
SM Entertainment broke the news on April 3, 2026, through a statement posted on Weverse. The agency said the decision was made “after a lengthy period of in-depth discussions with Mark regarding the direction of his future activities and following appropriate conversations between both parties.” The label confirmed that the conclusion of the contract was mutual.
As a result of the departure, NCT 127 will continue as a seven-member group consisting of Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo and Haechan. NCT Dream will reportedly move forward as a six-member group featuring Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung. Allkpop.
The announcement came just days after NCT Dream wrapped up the final leg of their fourth world tour, The Dream Show 4: Dream the Future, which concluded in Seoul on March 29, 2026. The tour, which began in July 2025, covered major venues across Asia. Fans who attended the final shows described emotional scenes, with members reportedly in tears during the closing concert.
In response to SM Entertainment’s statement, Mark posted a handwritten letter on Instagram addressed to fans and other members. He wrote that while his time with NCT gave him some of the best experiences of his life, he had decided to pursue a personal dream of traveling the world and playing music on his acoustic guitar.
He thanked the members, saying they supported his decision “with all their hearts”, and told fans: “You have made me the happiest person in the last 10 years,” he said. Korea Times reported.
Mark, whose full name is Mark Lee, was born on August 2, 1999 in Toronto, Canada. He joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2012 after passing the SM Global Audition in Vancouver. He debuted as a member of NCT U on April 9, 2016, with the single “The 7th Sense”, before joining NCT 127 and NCT Dream later that year.
Throughout his 10-year career, Mark was also a member of the SM supergroup SuperM, which debuted in 2019. He released his first solo studio album, The First Fruiton April 7, 2025, which debuted at No. 1 on the Korean Circle Album Chart, sold over 500,000 copies and was certified platinum.
SM Entertainment closed its statement by expressing full support for Mark’s future: “We are truly grateful for the time he spent with us and support him wholeheartedly as he begins a new chapter in his journey,” as per GMA Network.
