From BoA to NCT Mark..SM's representative artist is leaving and it's "dull." [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Following singer BoA, who was a symbol-like artist of SM Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as SM), group NCT member Mark left SM. Attention is being paid to the news of a series of breakups by SM's leading artists.

BoA wrapped up her 25-year-long companion with her agency SM Entertainment on January 12. At that time, SM announced that it had decided to terminate the exclusive contract with BoA on December 31, 2025.

SM said, "It was a great honor to be able to share every moment from BoA's special debut, who wrote a new history in the Korean pop music industry, to the present day, when she grew up as a No. 1 artist and producer." BoA also said, "I'm leaving without regret as much as I gave and received," adding, "Thank you for your time together, and I'll continue to support shining SM."

BoA has been with SM since her debut in 2000 and has established herself as a representative artist of the company and a symbol of the first generation of K-pop solo singers. In particular, he has made remarkable achievements at home and abroad, including pioneering the Japanese market, and is considered to have played a major role in SM's growth and global expansion.

He continued to influence not only artist activities but also inside the company. BoA was appointed as an unregistered director of SM in 2014, and later participated as an NCT WISH producer, helping to foster junior artists.

However, BoA also had a hard time suffering from malicious comments after the drama "Marry My Husband" aired in 2024. At the time, he directly hinted at retirement and said, "My contract is until December 31, 2025," drawing attention to his future course of action. In the end, when the exclusive contract with SM ended, BoA's breakup, which has symbolized the company for a long time, was quite shocking.

Currently, BoA has set up a one-man agency, Bapal Entertainment, and has made a fresh start.

In addition, even Mark, a key member of the group NCT, recently reported the news of his separation from SM, drawing more attention to the successive departures of representative artists.

SM said on the 3rd, "After discussing the future direction of activities with Mark for a long time, we agreed to end the exclusive contract on April 8." As a result, Mark will not only leave SM, but also complete all NCT activities, including NCT 127 and NCT Dream.

When the news of Mark's withdrawal from the team was reported with the end of his exclusive contract, the members hugged each other and shed tears at the final performance of the NCT Dream solo concert "2026 NCT DREAM TOUR "THE DREAM SHOW 4: FUTURE THE DREAM" FINALE" recently held. Fans are shocked as the news of Mark's departure has been reported in five days.

Mark expressed his feelings about leaving in a handwritten letter. "I know it's going to feel too sudden for everyone," he said. In fact, I have always had a dream since I was a trainee and maybe even before that. "After 10 years of seeing and experiencing the world as the best, I think I have naturally wondered what the best dream I can have and what the best thing I can do and purpose I can have as a person named Mark." As it's time to end my 10-year contract, I woke up all my senses in my mind and thought for a long time, and eventually I was really curious about what the exact completion of the dream would look like and I wanted to dive properly. I think I really wanted to find out what my music or fruit would be and how I could achieve it in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, with Mark's withdrawal, NCT 127 has been reorganized into Johnny, Taeyong, Utah, DOYOUNG, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan, and NCT Dream has been reorganized into Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung six members.

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*This content was translated by AI.