Ten - NCT is the next person to terminate the contract, the SM empire is gradually collapsing?

Ten (Chittaphon Leeyaikul) – the genius "dance machine" of NCT and WayV – officially decided to leave the Seongsu-dong building. A large-scale exodus is taking place, signaling the end of a golden era under SM.

April 2026 will definitely go down in K-pop history as one of the darkest times for SM Entertainment. When the wounds from the breakup with the "symbol of effort" Mark Lee have not yet had time to drain.

On April 6, 2026, the announcement from SM Entertainment was like a bucket of cold water pouring on the international fan community. Ten's exclusive contract will officially close on April 8. Although the company still uses soothing terms such as "maintaining partnerships" or "leaving open the possibility of participating in group activities", everyone understands that these are just written etiquette.

Ten is more than just an idol; He is the embodiment of the concept of "All-rounder" with a unique performance mindset and dance skills approaching the level of masters. The fact that a foreign artist with far-reaching influence in the Chinese and Thai markets like Ten chooses to leave as soon as his contract expires is a red flag. It shows the irreconcilable contradictions in the management and personal orientation that SM has for top talents. The question is: Will NCT's "endless" system still retain its attraction when the most iconic factors leave the game one after another?

Ten's departure took place just 3 days after the "earthquake" named Mark Lee. If Ten is the difference, then Mark is the beat, the living soul of the entire NCT project. Over the course of a decade, Mark has been working as a tireless machine, appearing in every lineup from NCT 127, NCT Dream to super group SuperM. He squeezed out every drop of sweat to guarantee the SM name throughout his youthful years.

Mark's decision to leave on April 3 carries a painful but realistic message. In a handwritten letter to fans, he mentioned his desire to "rediscover his personal musical identity" – a light that has been overshadowed by the dense schedules and pressure of carrying a large system of members. The moment when the NCT members hugged each other and sobbed on the last night of the show was not only a goodbye to Mark, but also a bitter acknowledgment of an old chapter that was forever closed.

Looking back at the first months of 2026, experts say that the departure of Mark and Ten is actually just a belated "aftershock" after the earthquake event called BoA. On January 12, 2026, the "Queen of K-pop" officially ended her 25-year journey with SM.

The simultaneous loss of a BoA monument and two international "aces" Mark and Ten raises a big question mark about the effectiveness of the "SM 3.0" strategy. The management once promised an environment that optimizes the interests of artists, but the reality shows that top talents are feeling "eroded" instead of sublimated.

Fans have the right to regret a complete NCT lineup, but believe that strong musical personalities like Ten and Mark have enough "feathers and wings" to write a new legend on their own. When the barriers from the old management company disappear, we have the right to expect breakthrough music projects with a personal touch that they have never been allowed to express before. An era of artistic freedom is beginning, and we are all witnesses to this great transformation.

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