NCT And WayV Member Ten Bids Farewell To SM Entertainment And Fans Are Emotional AF

Hey, Czennies and WayZenNies, we hope you're doing okay.

After almost 10 years with SM Entertainment, Ten is officially leaving the company—but not saying goodbye to NCT or WayV just yet.

In a statement released on Weverse, SM confirmed that Ten's exclusive contract will end on April 8, following "careful and extensive discussions" about his next steps. The agency also reassured fans that this isn't the end of his group activities, adding, "Moving forward, we will continue to stay in close communication to explore opportunities for Ten to participate in WayV and NCT activities, where possible."

Ten, notably SM's first Thai artist, also shared a heartfelt message reflecting on his decade-long journey. Since debuting with NCT U in 2016 (thus making him one of the founding fathers of NCT), he's grown into one of the group's most versatile performers for his fluid dancing, distinct vocals, and experimental solo releases.

In a series of Instagram Stories he uploaded in Korean, English, and Thai (ICYDK, he's also pretty much known as a multilingual king), he shared, "Every moment that I've spent with you… has been incredibly meaningful to me and I truly cherish every moment of this journey."

As he approaches his 10th anniversary—and enters a new phase of his life—he admitted feeling the need to explore new challenges and "discover new versions" of himself.

"SM will always be my 'home,' and I will forever be proud to say that I grew up at SM," he added—an acknowledgment that hits a little harder once you remember he officially joined the agency when he was around 17 years old.

If this all feels a little overwhelming, you're not alone. The announcement comes just days after Mark Lee also revealed his departure from SM—though in his case, Mark will be leaving NCT and its subunits entirely. For longtime fans, it's a lot to take in, especially considering both Ten and Mark were part of NCT's OG 2016 lineup.

Naturally, the Internet had feelings. A lot of them.

Some fans are still not ready to process it just yet. "First Mark & now Ten, please April Fool's was a week ago," one fan joked—and honestly, same.

Another admitted they had sort of predicted this after Mark left, pointing out that Ten has always been one of the most overworked members, and recalling a video of him visibly emotional. But they were quick to add how excited they are for his solo work, saying, "I love his artistry!"

Others are cautiously optimistic, pointing out that his continued involvement in NCT and WayV means this isn't a full goodbye: "Feels like a new chapter rather than a full goodbye."

Ten's career has been anything but one-note. He debuted in 2016 as part of NCT U with "The 7th Sense," the track that essentially introduced the whole NCT concept to the world. Early on, he proved he could hold his own solo, dropping "Dream in a Dream" (2017) and "New Heroes" (2018)—both being fan favorites that highlighted his signature performance style.

While NCT U is known as a rotational unit—meaning members come together in different combinations for releases—Ten officially made his fixed-unit debut with WayV in 2019. The China-based group expanded his reach even further—and gave us more of Chinese-speaking Ten.

That same year, he joined SuperM, SM's global supergroup, proving he could keep up with—and stand out among—some of K-pop's biggest names. He also held his first-ever fan concert tour, 1001, in Seoul, and his latest solo release is "Stunner" (2025).

Whatever's up next for Ten, we're seated and so ready to see what's ahead of him. Thank you for 10 years, Ten! 💚