Mark Lee leaves NCT after 10 years to pursue his dreams in busking: 'With just an acoustic guitar'

DUBAI 23°CGOLD/FOREXPRAYER TIMESNEWSLETTERSLOGIN GOLD/FOREXDUBAI 23°CPRAYER TIMES ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENTHOLLYWOODBOLLYWOODSOUTH INDIANMUSICOTT Mark Lee leaves NCT after 10 years to pursue his dreams in busking: 'With just an acoustic guitar'The NCT star shares a deeply personal reason behind his decade-defining decision Dubai: Ten years ago, a teenager from Canada walked into an SM Entertainment audition and changed the trajectory of his life. On 8 April 2026, that chapter officially comes to a close. Mark Lee will be exiting NCT following the conclusion of his decade-long exclusive contract, and the letter he left behind is one of the most quietly beautiful farewells K-pop has ever seen. SM Entertainment stated that after extensive discussions about his future direction, both parties mutually agreed to end his exclusive contract. As a result, Mark will conclude all activities related to NCT, including work with subunits such as NCT 127 and NCT Dream. What makes Mark's departure so unexpectedly moving is the reason behind it. In a handwritten letter shared on Instagram, Mark revealed something far more disarming: a dream he has held since before he ever became a star. "I always liked to go busking with just an acoustic guitar," he wrote. He also shared that he loved writing in English so much that he once dreamed of becoming a writer. They were the quiet wishes of a young boy who loved music in its simplest form, before the world tours, the sold-out arenas and the title of busiest man in K-pop. After ten years of experiencing the world "at its fullest" through NCT, Mark says he began to feel a deep pull toward something more personal. "I became curious about what the complete and true form of that dream really looks like, and I felt a strong desire to fully dive into it," he wrote. "What will my music be? What kind of fruit will I bear? And how can I bring that into the world? I truly want to find those answers and achieve them." The full statement Mark shared with fans is remarkable in its honesty and warmth. He debuted with NCT U on 9 April 2016, meaning his departure comes almost exactly a decade to the day. He wrote that through those ten years, he had been "nothing but happy," and that the love of Czennies helped him turn "a quiet dream of becoming a singer into something bigger." He spoke at length about his fellow members, describing how every single one of them told him they supported his decision, a detail that clearly moved him deeply. "It honestly brings me to tears just thinking about it," he wrote. "To the older members who see me as their cute younger brother, and to the younger ones who see me as a leader, I want to say thank you again, so, so much." He was also candid about the weight of the decision and what it might mean for those who love him. "I fully understand that it doesn't ease everyone's worries, concerns, or pain just because I see this as a personal challenge," he acknowledged. "For czennies who have loved me as NCT's Mark, this change can feel like a huge shock and even a source of hurt. My heart feels really, truly heavy." But he was also clear: this was not a decision made lightly or impulsively. It was the result of years of quiet reflection and long conversations with the people closest to him. "I spent a long time thinking deeply about what the most mature choice and the best way forward would be," he wrote. He closed with words that will stay with anyone who reads them. "Thank you so much for letting me live as a grateful person. I will carry this gratitude for SM, the NCT members, and Czennies for the rest of my life. And when I greet you again with a new side of me, I will do my absolute best so that I can be a better version of Mark." SM Entertainment confirmed that both NCT units will continue. NCT 127 moves forward as a seven-member group with Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo and Haechan. NCT DREAM continues with six members: Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung. The agency expressed gratitude for the decade they shared with Mark and confirmed their full support for what comes next. The fandom has been quietly devastated, in the way that only a genuinely beloved departure can devastate. Many fans pointed to a moment that suddenly felt significant in hindsight, with one post reading "it makes sense why Jisung was crying" circulating widely as a reference to what fans now believe may have been an emotional goodbye behind the scenes. Others simply reflected on what Mark has meant to them. "Talent, loyalty, and heart. Not easy to replace. Respect always," wrote one fan on X. Areeba Hashmi is a trainee at Gulf News. NCT’s Mark Lee steps away from group after a decade NCT’s Mark leaves SM Entertainment after 10 years NCT’s Mark Lee steps away from group after a decade NCT’s Mark leaves SM Entertainment after 10 years HBO’s Harry Potter teaser sparks mixed reactions Carney: Strikes ‘inconsistent with international law’