Sungchan and Shotaro will leave NCT to debut in a new boy group.
SM Entertainment (SM) announced, “Sungchan and Shotaro will be leaving NCT to debut as members of a new boy group scheduled to launch in 2023.”
Sungchan and Shotaro were previously members of NCT, but have been confirmed as members of SM’s new boy group.
SM explained, “We made this decision based on the members’ sentiments and the musical direction of each team.”
As for NCT, the company said, “As the new team is the final chapter of NCT’s infinite expansion, we want to create a differentiated team that 안전놀이터 is more in line with the worldview of regional ties. We will increase the proportion of Japanese members and reveal to fans the process of selecting debutants and launching the team, which we have not disclosed in the past.”
Below is the full statement from SM Entertainment.
This is SM Entertainment.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our fans for their great love for NCT, and would like to share with you our plans for the future activities of Sungchan and Shotaro.
Sungchan and Shotaro, who have shown wonderful activities as members of NCT, will leave NCT and debut as members of a new male group scheduled to launch in 2023. We would like to express our sincere apologies and gratitude to the two members who have been waiting for their own team within NCT and to the fans who have been supporting them.
We have had ample discussions with Sungchan and Shotaro in preparation for the SM 3.0 NEW IP, and have made this decision based on the members’ sentiments and the musical direction of the team. We deeply apologize to our fans and ask for their understanding and support as we embark on a new beginning.
In addition, as the new NCT team is the final chapter of our infinite expansion, we want to make it a differentiated team that is more in line with our worldview of regional ties, so we will increase the proportion of Japanese members and open up to fans the process of debutant selection and team launch that we have not previously disclosed.
We will continue to give our full support to the members of NCT, as well as to the activities of Sungchan and Shotaro, and we hope that you will continue to give them your warm support and love as they continue their activities.