[theqoo] FORMER NCT MARK PREPRARING FOR HIS U.S. SOLO CAREER

Just one month after leaving the boy band and SM Entertainment, former NCT member Mark appears to be preparing to relaunch his music career as a solo artist in the United States.

These speculations have intensified after Tunji Balogun, Chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, followed Mark on social media shortly after Mark terminated his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment on April 8.

Balogun is a highly respected figure and one of the leading figures in the music industry. Before joining Def Jam Recordings, he worked at RCA Records, where he helped discover and develop artists such as Khalid, SZA, and Bryson Tiller.

Within the K-pop industry, when executives from major labels follow the social media accounts of high-profile artists, it is often interpreted as a signal suggesting potential future collaborations or partnership discussions, rather than merely a personal interest.

Def Jam Recordings is widely known for its focus on hip-hop and R&B genres, which aligns closely with Mark’s musical direction. Additionally, as a Canadian national and fluent English speaker, Mark is considered to be in a highly advantageous position to pursue activities in the North American market.

Mark himself hinted at a new direction in a handwritten letter posted on social media on April 3, mentioning the start of a new chapter and discussing acoustic guitar busking and writing lyrics in English, activities he has long been deeply interested in.

Furthermore, Mark was spotted in a video uploaded by rising pop artist Genia on April 23. Genia captioned the video, “Genia x Mark Lee!! When K-pop meets pop,” suggesting that the two were working together in an unidentified recording studio. Genia joined Def Jam Recordings in 2024 and released her single “Doomsday” last April.