SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) — Mark, a member of K-pop boy group NCT, will terminate his contract with SM Entertainment and leave the band, the entertainment agency said Friday.

The decision, which will take effect next Wednesday, was made “after sufficient and in-depth conversations, held for a long time with Mark,” the agency said.

“Mark has been an outstanding artist for the past 10 years, and has demonstrated outstanding abilities both as a member of the group and as a solo artist,” said SM Entertainment, adding that they wish him the best in his new stage.

The artist debuted in 2016 as part of NCT and has had an active career in the group’s subunits, including NCT 127 and NCT Dream.

In April of last year, he broke out as a solo artist with his album “The Firstfruit.”