Former NCT member Mark Lee has officially established his own independent agency, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter in his career following his high-profile departure from SM Entertainment.
The 26-year-old artist introduced his new venture, “Upper Room,” on Wednesday via a newly launched corporate Instagram account, which he subsequently shared on his personal profile.
According to South Korean media and corporate registration records, the company is legally registered under his name, Mark Lee, and he will serve as the label’s co-CEO alongside trusted colleagues.
The label is described as an innovative creative space designed to blend music with video, visual arts, and performance. Alongside the social media launch, Mark unveiled a new YouTube channel featuring a cinematic prologue video that concludes with him stating:
“Songs for the future, cities of visions, a room to start, Upper Room.”
This milestone follows Mark’s shocking exit from SM Entertainment in April, which concluded his decade-long tenure with the entertainment giant. The agency previously confirmed that his exclusive contract wrapped up on April 8 after extensive, careful discussions regarding his future.
As part of his departure, Mark officially stepped down from all NCT sub-units, including NCT 127 and NCT Dream. In a deeply personal, handwritten letter shared with fans during his exit, he expressed profound gratitude for his time as an idol.
“After 10 years, I want to dive into a more concrete version of myself,” he wrote, adding, “I think I’ve truly, truly been nothing but happy… I will always root for and love NCT.”
With Upper Room Inc. now formally established, industry insiders and fans alike are highly anticipating the distinct musical identity and independent projects the versatile star will bring to fruition.