Seoul — Ten, a core member of NCT and WayV, is set to leave SM Entertainment while continuing his activities as part of both groups, according to industry reports and company statements released this week.
The decision reflects an increasingly familiar arrangement in K-pop: artists opting out of exclusive contracts with their original agencies while preserving group affiliations built over years of shared branding, music, and fandom investment.
Ten will reportedly pursue individual activities outside SM, while still participating in scheduled NCT and WayV promotions under a separate agreement.
A Hybrid Model Becomes the Norm
This type of “partial separation” would have been difficult to imagine a decade ago.
K-pop contracts were traditionally structured as all-or-nothing arrangements. Leaving an agency often meant leaving the group entirely, with legal disputes or long hiatuses following.
That has changed.
Agencies—particularly large ones like SM—are increasingly open to flexible structures that allow members to retain group participation while managing solo careers independently or through different partners.
For Ten, the arrangement allows him to maintain his position within NCT’s global brand and WayV’s China-focused unit, while gaining more control over his individual artistic direction, endorsements, and career strategy.
Not an Isolated Case
Ten’s move comes amid a broader wave of departures from SM Entertainment in recent years, many of which follow a similar pattern.
Taemin and SHINee
After completing his military service, Taemin chose not to renew his contract with SM Entertainment. He later signed with a different agency for solo activities while remaining a member of SHINee. Group activities continue under SM’s management.
Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin (EXO-CBX)
Members of EXO’s subunit CBX—Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin—engaged in a high-profile contract dispute with SM before ultimately establishing their own label for solo work. Despite tensions, they remain part of EXO and continue group promotions.
Onew and Other Veterans
Onew also departed SM for individual management while maintaining SHINee membership, reinforcing the idea that legacy groups can operate across multiple agencies without dissolving.
Mark and the Internal Precedent
Even within SM’s active roster, members have begun signaling a shift in how long-term careers are approached.
Mark Lee, one of NCT’s most prolific songwriters and central figures, recently confirmed that he completed his contract period and chose not to renew under the same terms. His departure was notably calm and direct—framed as a personal decision to explore his own music—while maintaining good relations with both the company and his group.
The tone of his exit stood out: no public dispute, no ambiguity, and no attempt to sever ties with NCT’s structure.
It set a precedent for what post-contract transitions inside SM can look like when both sides are aligned.
Why This Is Happening Now
Several factors are driving this shift:
1. Contract Cycles Are Maturing
Many second- and third-generation idols are reaching the end of their initial or extended contracts. These artists have established personal brands strong enough to sustain independent activity.
2. Groups Have Become Intellectual Property
Groups like NCT, EXO, and SHINee now function as long-term IP assets. Maintaining group continuity benefits both the company and the artists, even if individual management structures change.
3. Global Expansion Requires Flexibility
With members operating across multiple markets—Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.—rigid contracts can limit opportunities. Separate management allows artists to tailor strategies by region.
4. Reduced Stigma Around Leaving
Departing an agency no longer carries the same connotation of conflict or failure. In many cases, it is positioned as a natural next step in an artist’s career.
What It Means for NCT and WayV
Ten’s continued participation ensures stability for both NCT’s rotational system and WayV’s positioning in the Chinese market.
Unlike traditional fixed groups, NCT was designed as an expandable structure, which makes it more adaptable to contractual changes. Members moving in and out of agency agreements does not necessarily disrupt the brand’s overall continuity.
For WayV, Ten remains one of its most internationally recognizable members, particularly in performance and global fan engagement.
Management Evolution
The steady stream of departures from SM Entertainment might appear, at first glance, like an “exodus” but it could just be evolution.
Artists are no longer choosing between staying with their company or staying with their group. Increasingly, they are doing both—on different terms.
Ten’s move fits squarely within that evolution: less a break, more a recalibration of how modern K-pop careers are managed.
