Ten, a longtime member of boy group NCT and its subunits, has ended his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment, the agency said in a statement released April 6. SM confirmed the contract was concluded as of April 8 following “in-depth discussions” with Ten about the future direction of his activities, and said it will work to allow him to continue participating in group projects going forward.
“We would like to inform you that we have concluded the exclusive contract as of April 8 after in-depth discussions with Ten on the future direction of activities,” SM’s statement read. The company added that it plans to “coordinate so that Ten can participate in WayV and NCT group activities in the future,” and expressed gratitude for his contributions as both a solo artist and group member, saying it would “sincerely support Ten’s new start.”
Ten has performed as a member of NCT as well as its China-based unit WayV and the cross-group project SuperM, roles that have made him a prominent figure across multiple SM-led projects. SM’s announcement reaffirmed the company’s intention to continue supporting WayV members’ activities and thanked fans for their continued support of the group.
The agency did not provide further details about Ten’s plans after the contract termination, including whether he has signed with a new management company or intends to pursue independent activities. Nor did the statement include comments directly from Ten. SM’s wording, stressing coordination for future group activity, suggests ongoing negotiations between the artist and his former agency to preserve his involvement in collective performances and releases.
The arrangement, as described by SM, fits a growing pattern in K-pop where artists and agencies negotiate post-contract frameworks that allow for continued collaboration on group projects even after exclusivity ends. Such coordination can be complex because group promotions typically require alignment among multiple agencies and contractual terms; SM’s pledge to facilitate Ten’s participation indicates the company is open to those kinds of inter-agency agreements in the short term.
SM’s message closed by thanking Ten for his “outstanding ability” and by promising continued support for both WayV and its fandom. Fans and industry watchers will be looking for follow-up announcements detailing Ten’s immediate activities, any new representation, and the logistical arrangements that would enable him to appear with NCT and WayV in future promotions.