WinWin is officially leaving SM Entertainment, NCT, and WayV. On July 8, 2026, SM Entertainment announced that WinWin’s exclusive contract will end on July 9 after mutual discussions. With that, his activities as a member of NCT and WayV will also come to a close, wrapping up a decade with the company.
Company’s Official Statement
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We would like to sincerely thank all NCT fans for your continued love and unwavering support.
Following careful discussions with WINWIN, we have mutually agreed to conclude his exclusive contract, effective July 9. Accordingly, WINWIN will conclude all activities as a member of NCT.
We are deeply grateful to WINWIN, who has been with SM Entertainment for more than 10 years since his trainee days. We sincerely thank him for the time we have shared together and wholeheartedly support him as he embarks on a new journey.
Thank you.
In its statement, SM thanked Dong Sicheng for his time with the agency and said the decision was made through careful conversation. Following the announcement, WinWin posted a touching letter on his personal Instagram on July 8.
WinWin’s Handwritten Letter
Hello. This is Winwin.
From 2016 to 2026, a 10-year span of time has passed incredibly fast. Looking back on the past 10 years, I am writing this letter with total sincerity.
Starting as a trainee up until becoming a member of NCT 127 and a member of WayV, my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for being able to meet so many people and forge precious connections over the past 10 years.
Sometimes, when I take out photos from a few years ago, the individual stories captured in each picture come flooding back, reviving countless memories. Looking back, there were difficult and exhausting moments, and there were days when I faced frustration and adversity. However, in my heart, moments filled with even greater happiness, deep emotion, and joy still remain.
Even as time passes, those small but precious memories have always been the strongest force sustaining my life, making each and every step meaningful. They have become the most precious driving force that made me who I am today.
You gave me, who was young and lacking, the opportunity to debut as a member of the group, and created a precious stage where I could travel all over the world to meet all the fans. From the moment I was able to stand on stage for the first time as an SM artist until now, if it weren’t for all of these experiences, the person I am today would not exist. Furthermore, I would never have been able to meet the countless people who recognized and loved me.
These past 10 years will remain in my life for a very long time as my most precious memory.
Lastly, I want to sincerely thank Czennie, WayZenNi, and all the fans who have been with me until now. I hope the past 10 years have been warm and beautiful for you as well, and that they remain as precious memories that cannot be forgotten for a long time.
In the future, I will become a Winwin who does not forget the dreams I first held, does my best with an unchanging heart, and grows even more.
I hope peace and good luck will be with everyone reading this letter, and I sincerely wish for all your wishes to come true.
Thank you.
Where WinWin’s Career Began
In 2013, an SM casting manager spotted WinWin outside the Beijing Dance Academy (his secondary school), where he was specializing in traditional Chinese dance. WinWin was hesitant because he didn’t trust strangers and was busy focusing on his intense dance training. To politely get rid of the scouts, he repeatedly gave them fake or wrong phone numbers whenever they approached him.
SM Entertainment’s casting team was so mesmerized by his talent, visuals, and elite dance background that they did not give up. Agents spent roughly two years pursuing him, flying back and forth between Seoul and Beijing nine separate times purely to meet with him and convince his family to let him join. WinWin eventually agreed to visit South Korea for a two-week trial.
That experience sparked his desire to become a performer, leading him to officially sign with the agency, train for a year, and debut with NCT 127 in 2016. WinWin officially joined WayV when the group was first introduced on December 31, 2018.
Why Was He Not Very Active in Music Since 2023
Since 2023, he hasn’t been very active with music promotions for WayV or NCT. Back in 2021, he started his own studio, Beijing Zhaoyao Culture Media, to manage his acting career in China. By the time his contract ended, he had already become a successful actor, starring in popular Chinese dramas like Sweet Games, Perfect Match, and A Splendid Match.
SM did not share a detailed reason for the split. But the announcement made it clear that WinWin will now pursue personal activities outside the company. That won’t come as a huge shock to many fans, especially since he has spent recent years focusing heavily on solo schedules and acting work in China.
Reports say that Dong Sicheng will appear in a new drama later this year, which shows his stronger focus on acting. Many fans were sad to see him step back from his group activities, but they were also very proud of his success as an actor. They continue to cheer him on as he pursues his dream and stars in his own dramas.