NCT's Mark Lee Leaves SM Entertainment on April 8

SM Entertainment announced on Friday that Mark Lee, a key member of the K-pop boy group NCT, will depart the agency and conclude all activities with the group effective April 8. The 26-year-old Canadian rapper, who has been with NCT since its 2016 debut, reached a mutual agreement with the company after extended discussions about his future career plans.

The announcement, posted on the fan platform Weverse, detailed that Mark will end his exclusive contract and step away from NCT as well as its subunits, NCT 127 and NCT Dream. "After a long period of careful and thoughtful discussion with Mark regarding his future activities, we have mutually agreed to conclude his exclusive contract as of April 8," the statement read. SM Entertainment highlighted Mark's contributions over nearly a decade, noting his "exceptional talent and versatility through both group and solo activities" and expressing gratitude for his performances in over 100 songs, world tours, and global album releases.

Mark, born in Toronto on August 2, 1999, joined SM Entertainment as a trainee in 2012 and rose to prominence through NCT's innovative subunit system, which features both fixed and rotating lineups. He...