Today (July 3), Mark Lee, a member of the South Korean boy group NCT, announced that he has terminated his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment and will be leaving the group. Both NCT 127 and NCT DREAM will undergo lineup changes. In fact, speculation about Mark’s departure had already surfaced during the encore concert a few days ago.
With Mark’s departure, NCT 127 will now promote 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 the NCT DREAM encore concert in Seoul on March 29, many fans sensed an emotional atmosphere from both Mark and the members. While performing “Rainbow,” Mark suddenly lowered his head and broke down in tears. Renjun approached to hug him and also began crying, while Haechan crouched down and cried as well. Jisung became overwhelmed 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 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 has now made a new decision. While the news shocked fans (NCTzens), he revealed that he has long dreamed of playing guitar on the streets. He also enjoys writing in English and once considered 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’ve always moved forward with a sincere love for music, and I believe that’s the most valuable thing from these past 10 years.” However, questions about what kind of music he truly wants to create and what stories he wants to tell have become clearer.
“Although I don’t know exactly what it will look like, I hope to truly discover my own musical style and share it with the world.”
Sources: Yahoo News
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