Just days after Mark Lee’s departure, Ten of K-pop boy band NCT is also leaving SM Entertainment as both have chosen not to renew their contracts after a decade under the agency.
The Thai artist confirmed the news on Monday, April 6, through a heartfelt letter posted on his Instagram Story. In his message, Ten shared that his decision came after careful reflection and discussions with both his fellow members and the company, as he approaches his 10th debut anniversary.
“As I approach my 10th anniversary, I’ve found myself wanting to take on new challenges, explore new possibilities, and discover new versions of myself,” Ten wrote. “So, after a lot of thought and many heartfelt discussions with the members and the staff at SM, I’ve decided to conclude my exclusive contract with the company.”
Ten also expressed deep gratitude toward the agency that launched his career, calling it his “home” and noting pride in being the first Thai artist under the label.
“SM will always be my “home”, and I will forever be proud to say that I grew up at SM—especially as the first Thai artist to do so! Being given the opportunity to learn, perform and grow as an artist at SM is something that I will always be grateful for and hold close to my heart.”
Despite his exit, Ten reassured fans that he will continue his activities as a member of NCT and its sub-unit WayV, while hinting at a “new chapter” in his solo career.
“Moving forward, I will continue my activities as TEN of NCT and WayV. At the same time, I’m excited to show you new sides of TEN and to evolve in new ways as a solo artist in this next chapter,” he said.
SM Entertainment, for its part, confirmed that Ten’s contract termination will take effect on April 8, the same day as his former co-member Mark Lee, who announced his departure from both the company and the group just days earlier.
