Winwin has left NCT and SM Entertainment after a decade, turning years of what if into a goodbye. On July 8, the agency announced his contract would end on July 9 and that he would conclude all activities as a member of NCT.
As Winwin leaves NCT on paper, his handwritten letter is what NCTzens and WayZenNis are clinging to. The emotional message looks back on 2016 to 2026 and lands right in the middle of NCT’s 10th anniversary plans, after other major exits have already shaken the group.
Winwin leaves NCT: SM confirms contract end
SM Entertainment announced on July 8 that Winwin’s exclusive contract would end on July 9, 2026, after what it described as careful discussions with him. The company confirmed that all of his activities as an NCT member have finished, thanked him for more than ten years together, and said it would support his new beginning.
Winwin, born Dong Sicheng, debuted with NCT 127 in 2016 and joined China unit WayV in 2019. He has not appeared in NCT 127 promotions since late 2018 and has increasingly focused on work in China through his Beijing Zhaoyao studio and a partnership with Yuekai Entertainment, leading dramas like Sweet Games, Snowfall, A Splendid Match and the film Blades of the Guardians.
Inside Winwin’s handwritten letter to NCTzens and WayZenNis
Winwin posted a long handwritten letter on Instagram and Chinese platforms, saying the ten years from 2016 to 2026 passed in a flash. He traces his path from trainee to NCT 127 to WayV, writing that even though there were difficult moments, the joyful memories he shared with members and fans outweighed the hardships. He thanks SM Entertainment for letting him debut and perform, calls the decade a precious chapter of his life, and promises not to forget his original dream as he keeps growing.
He ends by addressing NCTzens and WayZenNis directly, hoping these years stay as warm memories for them too and wishing every reader peace, happiness, and the strength to chase their own dreams. Online, many fans say reading the letter feels like reopening an old wound, with its calm gratitude hitting hard after years of seeing Winwin underused, even as they feel proud that he can finally pursue a career on his own terms.
What Winwin’s exit means for NCT 127, WayV and NCT 2026
On paper, Winwin’s departure still reshapes NCT. NCT 127, where he first debuted, had already been promoting without him, and now continues as a seven member team after previous exits by Taeil and Mark. Their first comeback since Mark’s withdrawal is set for August 24 2026 with five active members while the rest are in the military.
WayV’s future configuration without him remains unannounced, leaving WayZenNis bracing for more change in the China line. Korean outlets have framed Winwin as the third big NCT related contract move of 2026, after Mark left the group and Ten ended his SM deal while staying in NCT, just as the NCT 2026 anniversary project starts rolling out, so fans are watching both NCT’s new era and Winwin’s next acting roles in parallel.