The 10-year run is over. SM Entertainment confirmed on Wednesday that Chinese artist Winwin is officially leaving the agency, bringing his time with the K-pop groups NCT and WayV to an end. His exclusive contract formally concludes on July 9.
The label broke the news through the fan platform Weverse, publishing a statement that thanked him for his contributions dating back to his trainee days. The agency added that they will continue to support his future endeavors as he moves forward independently.
Born Dong Si-cheng, Winwin debuted in the Seoul-based subunit NCT 127 in 2016. Three years later, he anchored the launch of the China-focused subunit WayV. But his musical output slowed down significantly in recent years. Instead of group promotions, he established a private studio in 2021 and shifted his focus entirely to acting in China, starring in television dramas like Sweet Games and Perfect Match, resulting in prolonged inactivity from K-pop.
His departure marks a distinct pattern for the agency this year. Winwin is now the third member to formally exit the sprawling NCT roster in 2026, following the high-profile departures of Mark and Lucas back in April.