Ten has left SM Entertainment with plans to pursue a solo career. He plans to participate in future NCT and WayV activities if possible, keeping ties with the group.
SM Entertainment's statement follows:
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.SM Entertainment's statement follows:
We would like to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to everyone who continues to support WayV with unwavering love and encouragement.
Following careful and extensive discussions regarding TEN’s future direction, we have reached a mutual understanding to conclude his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment, effective April 8. Moving forward, we will continue to stay in close communication to explore opportunities for TEN to participate in WayV and NCT activities, where possible.
Throughout his career, TEN has brought a distinctive artistic presence and breadth of talent to both his group and solo work. We sincerely appreciate the time we have shared together, and wish him all the best as he moves forward into a new chapter.
SM Entertainment remains committed to supporting WayV’s ongoing activities, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to fans for the continued love and support. We will continue to do our utmost to honor that support.
Thank you.
— SM Entertainment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ten personally addressed his fans after the news:
Hi Czennies and WayZenNies, it’s TEN.Ten personally addressed his fans after the news:
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since my debut with NCT U in 2016!
Looking back, every moment that I’ve spent with you—as a member of NCT, WayV, the SMTOWN family, and as “TEN” whom you’ve come to know, love and support—has been incredibly meaningful to me and I truly cherish every moment of this journey.
As I approach my 10th anniversary, I’ve found myself wanting to take on new challenges, explore new possibilities, and discover new versions of myself. So, after a lot of thought and many heartfelt discussions with the members and the staff at SM, I’ve decided to conclude my exclusive contract with the company.
SM will always be my “home”, and I will forever be proud to say that I grew up at SM—especially as the first Thai artist to do so! Being given the opportunity to learn, perform and grow as an artist at SM is something that I will always be grateful for and hold close to my heart.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has been part of my journey over these past 10 years. I am who I am today because of all of you. Thank you to my members and the staff at SM for supporting my decision and, most importantly, thank you to my fans—my Czennies and WayZenNies—who have supported and loved me unconditionally, it means more to me than I can express into words.
Moving forward, I will continue my activities as Ten of NCT and WayV. At the same time, I’m excited to show you new sides of “TEN” and to evolve in new ways as a solo artist in this next chapter!
Please continue to give your love and support to NCT, WayV, and me.
With all my love,
TEN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
News of other members' contract renewals/expirations are set to release in the following months:
For July: Yuta, Winwin, and Haechan
For August: Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung
Johnny is probably in September
For October: Possibly Jaehyun and Doyoung

Ten

WayV
News of other members' contract renewals/expirations are set to release in the following months:
For July: Yuta, Winwin, and Haechan
For August: Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung
Johnny is probably in September
For October: Possibly Jaehyun and Doyoung

Ten

WayV
Sources: Korea times || Koreaboo
Last edited: