NCT star Mark Lee leaves the boy band after a decade: 'It makes sense why Jisung was crying'

Mark, one of the most loved faces in K-pop and a well-known face of the South Korean boy band, is on his path to start something new. After nearly a decade with SM Entertainment and the boy band NCT, Mark is officially leaving the company and ending his run with both ‘NCT 127’ and ‘NCT DREAM’. His last day is set for April 8.Per Gulf News, SM Entertainment made it official on April 3. They said they’d talked a lot with Mark about his future, and in the end, both sides agreed it was time to part ways. The agency kept it warm, thanking him for the years together and wishing him luck as he moves on.The agency said, "Since debuting in 2016 as part of NCT, Mark has demonstrated outstanding abilities not only in group promotions but also as a solo artist, showing remarkable activities over the past 10 years," adding, "We would like to convey our gratitude for the valuable time we have shared together, and we sincerely cheer on Mark as he leaves the team and begins a new leap forward."Mark shared his own message to fans, who are known as Czennies. "Out of all the things my heart wants to say right now, I truly wish to say thank you," he wrote. "Thank you for loving, supporting, and shaping me to become who I am today."He admitted he’s nervous about what’s next, but he made it clear he didn’t make this choice lightly. "It's a quest that I myself am scared about, but I know that it's not for the worst. If I had ever done something right to have gained your trust over the last decade, I hope you believe me when I say that I'm not doing this just for fun."He wrapped up with a promise: "I will never forget the pieces of love and truth each and every Czennie gave me. You guys make me want to be a better person. See you."Fans have been all over social media about Mark’s exit from NCT. They have been emotional, supportive, and honestly, pretty sad.One person shared a clipping of Jisung crying during a concert on X and said, “Now it makes sense why Jisung was crying. Mark Lee is leaving NCT,” looking back on moments that now feel like goodbyes.Another wrote, “If Mark Lee is leaving, SM just lost one of the realest,Talent, loyalty, and heart… not easy to replace,Respect always.”Another user wrote, “Mark Lee dropping an emotional statement like that just makes it messier. If he’s serious, fans are losing a core piece. If it’s not, this is dragging too far. Either way, NCT won’t feel the same.”For the unversed, here’s a quick rundown about NCT and Mark.Mark is a Canadian rapper and singer who debuted with NCT in April 2016. He’s been everywhere, from NCT 127, NCT DREAM to NCT U. He worked nonstop, earning a reputation as one of the hardest workers in the business. Fans even joked about how he never caught a break, juggling two groups at once for years. On top of that, he built a solo career and a global fanbase that goes way beyond K-pop.So, what’s next for the group? Per SM, ‘NCT 127’ will keep going with seven members: Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan. ‘NCT DREAM’ will continue with six: Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung.