Five months following his high-profile departure from SM Entertainment and the juggernaut K-pop boy band NCT, Mark Lee has officially marked his evolution into an independent artist with the release of his new single, “My Friend.” The transition represents a monumental shift for an artist who spent the formative decade of his career navigating the hyper-accelerated, high-stakes machinery of major-label K-pop. Now stepping forward simply as singer-songwriter Mark Lee, and helming his own creative company, Upper Room, the multifaceted musician is redefining his artistic identity on his own terms.
“The new tracks I’m working on right now take completely unexpected directions and styles,” Mark shared in an exclusive interview with Billboard Korea. “But I’ve gained the conviction that this is exactly the music I should be putting out as my present self.”
“My Friend,” a mid-tempo track anchored by a breezy, acoustic guitar loop, serves as the opening salvo for his upcoming musical era. Eschewing the maximalist production, heavy computer-generated imagery (CGI), and flashing visual aesthetics traditionally associated with top-tier K-pop comebacks, the single leans into an organic, stripped-back atmosphere. It captures a refreshing, nostalgic mood just as summer draws to a close, signaling a deliberate pivot from adrenaline-fueled idol performances to introspective, comforting acoustic storytelling.
Detailed Chronology of an Unprecedented Career
To understand the weight of Mark Lee’s current independence, one must examine the extraordinary trajectory that preceded it. Over the past ten years, Mark has built a resume virtually unmatched in the history of modern Korean pop music. His journey across the K-pop landscape stands out not merely for its longevity, but for its complexity and unprecedented scale.
Mark’s career is defined by a staggering series of milestones:
- The Debut Marathon: Over the course of his early career, Mark underwent an astonishing five distinct debuts, an operational strategy designed to maximize his versatility across multiple musical concepts.
- Permanent Group Foundations: He solidified his status as a core pillar of SM Entertainment’s global footprint by anchoring two permanent, world-touring groups: NCT (and its various localized and conceptual subunits) and SuperM, the latter of which famously debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
- Unit Projects: Alongside his primary commitments, he navigated endless unit iterations—including NCT U, NCT 127, and NCT Dream—consistently functioning as the creative glue, main rapper, and primary performance driver across disparate genres ranging from experimental noise-pop to bubblegum R&B.
Despite this exhaustive schedule, Mark maintained a reputation for relentless perfectionism, pouring his utmost effort into every group project entrusted to him. However, the physical and creative demands of decade-long group promotions eventually gave way to a desire for artistic autonomy.
The turning point materialized in 2025 with the release of his debut solo album, The Firstfruit. The record functioned as a retrospective bridge, summarizing his past experiences while testing the waters of individual identity. The Firstfruit achieved critical and commercial acclaim, culminating in a prestigious No. 1 ranking on Billboard’s 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2025: Staff Picks. Building upon this momentum, Mark parted ways with SM Entertainment later that year, laying the groundwork for his current chapter as a completely independent singer-songwriter and corporate executive.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Anatomy of "My Friend"
The release of “My Friend” is more than just a musical comeback; it is a masterclass in creative reintroduction. Sonically, the track relies on a mid-tempo, guitar-driven arrangement that deliberately pulls back the production layers to showcase Mark’s raw vocal delivery. Having rarely highlighted his vocal range to this extent during his rapid-fire group days, Mark treats “My Friend” as a personal vocal reclamation project.
Behind the scenes, the creation of the single was an exercise in meticulous revision. Mark revealed that he wrote and discarded multiple versions of the lyrics and conceptual themes before arriving at the song’s core message: an exploration of "the greatest love." The title itself bridges his personal life with his global fandom. Known affectionately by his supporters as "Markfs"—a portmanteau of "Mark" and "Friend"—the track’s title explicitly honors that relationship.
The minimalist ethos of the single extends directly into its visual accompaniment. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Gus Black—noted for his work on sombr’s “Back to Friends”—the music video for “My Friend” was shot entirely on location amidst warm sunshine and green meadows. Rejecting the heavy, high-concept visual treatments customary in contemporary pop music videos, Black and Mark opted for an analog, cinematic approach devoid of AI enhancements or VFX wizardry.
“Honestly, I also thought that doing flashier styling from clothes to makeup was more appropriate, especially since it’s a music video for my first single,” Mark reflected. “We really talked about the true nature of the song and its meaning, so we changed the tone to be warmer since the song’s theme is ‘love.’ Rather than intentionally making ‘stripping back’ the point, I think we just refrained from adding unnecessary ‘coolness’ or ‘power,’ and went with expressions that truly felt more natural.”
Official Statements & Q&A Insights
In his in-depth conversation with Billboard Korea, Mark opened up about the psychological pressures of reinvention, his transition into full-fledged songwriting, and his long-term aspirations for his craft.
On the psychological weight of stepping out independently:
"I actually had a lot of worries and pressure while preparing for this new music, and figuring out which direction to take was my most difficult concern. But as I worked on various things and as different tracks began to come to life, these musical results actually gave me the confidence I needed… The pressure is still big in my heart, but I personally truly like my new music. I just want to share it with the world."
On the evolution of his vocal artistry:
"If there’s one difference that’s definitely noticeable, it’s how much I’ve tried to express myself vocally. Since I haven’t challenged myself this much as a vocalist before, I’m actually a bit worried, but even that is part of who I am right now. I believe the new music I’m presenting will contribute to ‘completing the present Mark Lee.’"
On stepping behind the mixing desk as a producer, lyricist, and arranger:
"While making ‘My Friend,’ working on the lyrics multiple times is what stands out in my memory the most. I’m the type to pray a lot in between making music, [laughs] and this was a song I particularly prayed a lot for. I even remember finalizing and revising the lyrics right up until the final recording moment."
On the synergy between his new label, Upper Room, and his creative output:
"If in the past I was only mainly focused on music, now I definitely end up having a lot more meetings and I am definitely in the position to making a lot of important decisions. But since it’s album production season right now, the team members have been very considerate… so that I can focus on the music. Because it’s an independent production environment, we—Upper Room—are always brainstorming together about everything so that everything can feel even more Mark Lee than ever, yet fresh."
Future Outlook: Beyond Pop Stardom
As Mark Lee looks toward the horizon, his ambitions extend far beyond traditional chart metrics and streaming numbers. While his past decade was defined by the relentless pursuit of peak performance within the K-pop industry, his next decade is shaped by a desire for sustainable artistic longevity and meaningful societal impact.
Among his most unique upcoming endeavors is his venture into "Kids-POP"—a genre he began exploring following a performance of his self-composed track “Ready or Not” at a United Nations Environment Programme event. While still defining the sonic boundaries of the genre, Mark views children as a vital audience deserving of intentional, values-driven artistry.
"There is definitely power in music," Mark explains. "As I meet these kids, and as I get to know their hearts better and empathize with them, I’ve become more passionate about making music that’ll feel totally directed toward them, and hopefully have an important impact on them. It’s my dream to deliver good messages and to show them standards that are good and virtuous but also cool… Children are the future!"
Back on the commercial front, “My Friend” acts as the vanguard for a forthcoming full-length project that will gradually unfold throughout the year. By shedding the rigid constraints of his idol past and establishing a creative sanctuary through Upper Room, Mark Lee is no longer just surviving the demanding K-pop ecosystem—he is authoring his own legacy.
“I want to do music for a long time,” Mark concludes. “Being fierce isn’t necessarily the goal, but I think my desire to do my best in spreading a positive influence to the world through my music and my life is getting stronger and stronger. If those who watch or listen to me can get even a little inspiration, find healing, or even experience growth, I think that’ll be a truly meaningful life to me.”
