Mark leaves heartfelt handwritten letter to fans following his departure from SM and NCT

NCT's Mark is concluding his activities with NCT and has left a heartfelt letter to fans.

On April 3, SM Entertainment announced, “After thorough discussions with Mark, we have mutually agreed to conclude his exclusive contract as of April 8. Accordingly, Mark will wrap up all NCT activities, including NCT 127 and NCT Dream.”

Since debuting with NCT in 2016, Mark has showcased exceptional talent not only in group promotions but also as a solo artist. After 10 years of activities, he plans to close this chapter and embark on a new journey.

According to SM, NCT 127 will continue as a seven-member group consisting of Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan. NCT Dream will move forward as a six-member group with Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung.

The agency stated, “We will continue to fully support the activities of NCT members moving forward. We will also do our utmost for the fans who continue to show unwavering love for NCT.”

Mark also shared his thoughts in a handwritten letter on Instagram that same day. “So much has happened over the past 10 years. I’ve performed on countless stages and created so many memories,” he reflected.

“I think I was truly happy throughout it all. To Czennies, who made me happy every single day for such a long time, I wanted to personally share my new decision and the start of a new chapter through this handwritten letter,” he added.

He also looked back on the beginning of his dreams. “I used to walk around busking on the streets with just an acoustic guitar, and I loved writing in English so much that I even wanted to become a writer,” he recalled.

“After spending 10 incredible years as part of NCT, I naturally began to think about what my ultimate dream could be and what I should pursue as a person named Mark,” he continued.

“As my 10-year contract comes to an end, I have spent a long time reflecting and awakening all the senses within me. I wanted to fully immerse myself in the exact, complete form of that dream,” he explained.

Mark also expressed his gratitude toward his fellow members. “All of the members told me they support me. After sharing the same journey and creating the best voyage together, they cheered me on when I said I now want to swim on my own,” he said.

To fans, he shared, “I thought deeply for a long time about what the most mature choice and approach would be. I feel very sorry and heavy-hearted that the result of those thoughts has led to this situation.”

Finally, he added, “Thank you for making me the happiest person over the past 10 years, for helping me dream bigger as a singer when I was once timid, and for allowing me to achieve that dream. I will carry my gratitude for SM, NCT, and Czennies for the rest of my life.”