mark leaving nct hits like the quiet closing of a long and bright chapter filled with such varied emotions. i’ve grown up with nct and nct has been such a source of comfort for me over the years, to witness mark, the literal pillar not only of nct but kpop as a whole (fight me on that idc cos i’m right) is something i never expected to see but at the same time i was also expecting it. after ten years, it feels like the end of an era not just for the group, but for so many of us who watched him grow up in the spotlight. it being ten years since he changed the trajectory with his debut in the 7th sense feels so full circle and despite all the sadness i feel, i feel one emotion strongly. pride. happiness. i’m so proud of mark and i’m so blessed to have witnessed his insane run throughout nct. truly a one in a kind idol.
he never set out to chase fame. his letter was so heartfelt and brought me to tears. he really wanted to be a stranger, far from society, dreaming of simple days walking around with nothing but an acoustic guitar, busking on quiet streets for whoever might stop and listen. becoming an idol was never part of his vision, yet he stepped into it completely and gave it every single piece of himself. he became one of the best at something he never asked for, pouring his heart into nct and into us without holding anything back. admiring mark and being a fan of his has taught me an insane amount of life lessons, his wisdom, his strength, his maturity, his patience, his faith, his talent, his endurance, his infectious energy… as i said he is truly a one in a kind.
mark is that rare kind of person who feels like home no matter where he is. warm, genuine, no idol has brought me to laughter the way he has, he is so endlessly hardworking, and somehow the steady heartbeat of every stage and every moment. he is literally nct. not to undermine the other members (that is not my intention!) but mark has been such an integral part of nct and when you think of nct, he instantly comes to mind. he will forever be remembered for how he represented everything it stands for so utterly perfectly. he feels like the soul of nct. one of a kind. the kind of idol everyone ends up loving because his sincerity shines through everything he does. the love and support he’s gotten is so heart warming to see, it’s so refreshing to see an exit from a group being treated so maturely without any toxicity. everyone truly loves mark and it’s so beautiful to see the support he has <3 i hope he feels loved and supported, and i hope he can finally rest and live the normal life he’s always dreamed of 🥺. god he has such a beautiful way with words. he is so universally loved 🥺
this departure stirs such a deep swirl of emotions in me. there’s a heavy sadness, of course, the ache of watching someone who’s felt like home for so long step away. but strangely, there’s also a quiet pride blooming alongside it, because mark deserves this chance to choose himself. it feels healthy, in a bittersweet way: a powerful reminder that even the toughest contracts can be reconsidered, that artists like him can finally walk their own path. yet it still hits like a real rupture. mark has always been so deeply woven into the very fabric of nct — his voice, his energy, his heart — that his leaving creates an emptiness nothing else quite fills. seeing sm slowly let go of its foundational artists one by one feels like the industry itself is shifting under our feet.
more than anything, mark’s decision teaches me that true courage isn’t always loud or cinematic. sometimes it’s the quiet, trembling choice to loosen your grip on what once defined you, trusting that something truer is waiting on the other side. watching him do it so openly makes me want to hold my own fears a little more gently, and believe a little more fiercely that choosing yourself is never selfish — it’s necessary, and it can be beautiful. there’s something profoundly courageous about mark choosing to walk away from the very thing that shaped him, the group that became his entire world since he was a teenager, the career that defined almost every year of his young life. he poured his soul into nct, gave it everything he had, and now he’s gently setting it down so he can find the version of himself that’s been waiting underneath all the stages and spotlights.
letting go of something that has been his home, his identity, his everything for so long must feel both freeing and terrifyingly lonely, especially when the whole world is watching. yet mark is doing it with such grace and self-awareness. he’s showing a kind of gentle strength and deep self trust that feels incredibly rare. in choosing to loosen his grip on what once defined him, he’s reaching for the person he was always meant to become, the mark who dreams of simple streets, an acoustic guitar, and the freedom to create without the weight of expectations. mark is reminding me, softly and powerfully, that choosing yourself isn’t selfish — it’s sacred. and for that, my heart feels both heavier and lighter at the same time.
thank you, mark lee, for your endless talent that always left me in awe, your amazing rapping and dance skills, thank you for the laughter you gave so freely that turned hard days lighter and made me smile even when i was alone. thank you for being such a beautiful, quiet muse when i write my fics, slipping into my words so naturally, bringing calm and comfort to every scene i tried to build around you. thank you for being so deeply relatable in the gentlest way, for that calm, steady presence that feels like a safe place no matter how loud the world gets. thank you for pouring your whole heart into your craft, for every late night studio session, every vulnerable lyric, every time you stood on stage and gave us everything even when you were tired constantly for ten years straight. thank you for the rapping that moves through my chest like a heartbeat, for the way you make words feel alive and honest. thank you for existing exactly as you are. i’m so grateful for living in same lifetime as mark lee 💗
