en.malanginspirasi.com – After stepping away from NCT 127, NCT U, and WayV in 2021 to prioritize his acting career in China, Chinese artist WINWIN has officially decided not to renew his contract with SM Entertainment.
The 28-year-old performer has chosen to depart from the agency to fully commit to his music and acting endeavors in his home country.
SM Entertainment shared the update on Weverse early Wednesday afternoon, Seoul time.
Expressing gratitude to NCTzens for their “continued love and unwavering support,” the agency announced that WINWIN will formally wrap up all engagements as an NCT member on July 9.
“We are deeply grateful to WINWIN, who has been with SM Entertainment for more than 10 years since his trainee days,” the agency stated. “We sincerely thank him for the time we have shared together and wholeheartedly support him as he embarks on a new journey.”
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WINWIN originally entered the K-pop scene in 2016 as a member of NCT.
After promoting with NCT U and NCT 127 until 2018, he transitioned to NCT’s China-focused unit, WayV, in 2019.
By early 2021, he relocated to China and launched his own personal management agency, Beijing Zhaoyao Culture Media Studio, to oversee his solo pursuits.
During his musical hiatus, he expanded his horizon by hosting and appearing on various reality shows before making his official acting debut in the romantic drama “Sweet Games”.
Since then, his filmography has grown to include roles in “Snowfall”, “Perfect Match”, “A Splendid Match”, and the movie “Blades of the Guardians”.
Fans can also look forward to seeing him in three upcoming drama series.
Shifts Within NCT and SM Entertainment
As the original NCT members hit their 10-year mark, contract renewal season has brought several unexpected shifts:
Mark Lee, the former NCT Dream leader and prominent member of NCT 127 and NCT U parted ways with both the agency and the group in early April.
He recently revealed plans to launch his own independent entertainment label to helm his solo career.
Meanwhile, TEN, the Thai idol chose not to renew his exclusive solo contract with SM Entertainment, instead establishing his own agency, ILLIMNT, to steer his personal artistry.
However, he will continue to participate in group promotions for NCT and WayV under SM’s management.
While fans await updates on the remaining original members, the contracts for South Korean members are currently paused due to their mandatory military service commitments and will resume upon their discharge.
Moving forward, WINWIN will manage his solo projects through his personal studio alongside Yuekai Entertainment.
