Winwin’s exit from NCT and SM Entertainment closes a defining 10-year chapter for the Chinese idol, actor, and founding WayV member. SM Entertainment announced that his exclusive contract would end on July 9, 2026, following discussions with Winwin, and that he would conclude all activities as a member of NCT.
For NCTzens and WayZenNi, the key point is clear: this is not simply a label change. Winwin has also left WayV, formally ending a membership that had felt uncertain after his long shift away from Korean group promotions and toward his acting career in China.
What Winwin Leaving NCT and SM Entertainment Confirms
SM shared its notice on NCT’s official fan community on July 8, thanking Winwin for more than a decade with the company and saying it would support his “new journey.” The agency described the contract conclusion as a mutual decision reached after careful discussions.
The most important language was that Winwin would “conclude all activities as a member of NCT.” Based on the reported announcement, that includes WayV, the China-focused NCT unit he helped launch. He is therefore not expected to participate in future NCT albums, tours, anniversary stages, or WayV schedules unless a new official statement says otherwise.
That distinction matters because leaving an agency and leaving a group are not always the same thing in K-pop. Some artists continue unit activities after changing management, but the available information on Winwin’s situation confirms both his SM exit and the end of his NCT membership.
Winwin’s 10-Year NCT Timeline
Winwin, born Dong Sicheng, debuted with NCT 127 in 2016. His early role placed him in one of NCT’s original performance-focused units, introducing him to global audiences during the group’s experimental expansion era.
- 2016: Winwin debuts with NCT 127.
- Late 2018: His promotions with NCT 127 effectively stop, according to the supplied reporting.
- 2019: He becomes a founding member of WayV.
- From 2021: His work increasingly centers on China-based entertainment activities.
- 2026: His SM contract and NCT activities officially conclude.
WayV gave Winwin a different kind of platform, built around Chinese-language releases and activities while remaining connected to NCT’s larger structure. Yet his public career gradually became more focused on China, where acting projects created an identity beyond idol group promotions.
His handwritten farewell letter placed that full span, from 2016 to 2026, at the center of his goodbye. Winwin reflected on difficult and exhausting moments, but emphasized that memories with his members and fans remained precious. He also thanked SM for giving him the chance to debut and perform.
Why His Letter Matters to NCTzens and WayZenNi
Winwin’s letter does not offer a detailed explanation for why he and SM chose to part ways. That remains private. Instead, it frames the departure as the close of a meaningful period, while making clear that he plans to keep growing in his next phase.
He addressed both NCTzens and WayZenNi directly, describing the decade as a lasting part of his life and wishing readers happiness and strength as they pursue their own dreams. For fans who watched his path from NCT 127 to WayV, that personal message offers more emotional context than the concise corporate announcement.
It is also worth separating Winwin’s own words from broader fandom debates. Some supporters have connected his departure to long-running frustrations about his limited NCT 127 promotions and career treatment. Those views are fan opinions, not an explanation confirmed by Winwin or SM Entertainment.
From Idol Winwin to Actor Dong Sicheng
Although the exit changes his official K-pop status, Winwin’s next career chapter has been developing for years. He established China-based studio operations in Beijing and has increasingly worked as an actor and entertainer outside NCT’s regular schedule.
His projects include the drama Sweet Games, along with roles in Snowfall, Perfect Match, and A Splendid Match. These credits have expanded his audience in China and shifted attention toward Dong Sicheng as an actor, rather than solely Winwin as an idol.
Reports also state that Winwin will continue solo activities through his personal studio alongside Yuekai Entertainment. After the end of his SM contract, Winwin Studio said its team would handle his work “fully and independently,” signaling a more self-directed professional structure.
For international fans, that means following casting announcements, drama promotions, film news, and updates from Winwin’s official accounts and studio. Chinese drama availability can vary by region, so each project may have a different route to English-subtitled release.
What Happens to WayV Without Winwin?
Winwin’s departure gives WayZenNi a definitive answer about his membership, but it does not answer every question around WayV’s future. SM has not announced the unit’s next lineup configuration, comeback plans, or how it will address his absence in future promotions.
The timing adds weight because NCT’s 10th-anniversary plans place each unit’s identity under closer attention. Winwin’s history connects NCT 127, WayV, and the wider NCT project, making this goodbye especially significant even after years in which his group appearances became less frequent.
Fans can reasonably treat his NCT and WayV chapter as complete while continuing to support the work he chooses next. The clearest places to watch are Winwin’s verified social accounts, announcements from Winwin Studio, and official updates tied to his future acting and entertainment projects.
Sources
-
K-Cult.com
«Why winwin leaving nct and sm has wayv fans watching his next china era and solo future more closely 996» -
K-Cult.com
«This brutal difference in sm entertainment exit posts for ncts mark and winwin has fans asking new questions 997» -
K-Cult.com
«Winwin officially exits nct and one detail in his handwritten letter has nctzens rethinking nct unit futures» -
K-Cult.com
«Winwin leaves nct and sm after 10 years and this acting era changes how nctzens and wayzenni can support him»