SM Says No Expiring Contracts for NCT Members This Year

It has been confirmed that no members of NCT have expiring contracts this year.

Initially, it was known that NCT members' contracts would expire sequentially this year. In April, it includes Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun and Mark; in July, Yuta, Winwin and Haechan; and in August, it includes Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung.

However, according to Herald Economy on the 17th, SM Entertainment explained, "Considering factors such as military enlistment and overseas activities, NCT members' contract periods were set longer than the usual duration. While there may be differences among members, there are no members whose contracts are expiring this year. All contracts are scheduled to expire after next year."

NCT, which debuted in 2016, has reached its 7th year this year. According to the Fair Trade Commission's standard exclusive contract for public cultural artists (singers), the exclusive contract cannot exceed a maximum of 7 years to prevent unfair long-term contracts.

However, there are clauses in the contract that allow for separate agreements for long-term overseas activities and extensions for military service, pregnancy/childbirth/childcare, and graduate school enrollment. NCT and SM seem to have extended their contracts beyond the usual contract period based on these clauses.

In the case of EXO, they also signed a 10-year contract instead of 7 years, considering overseas activities, and the court recognized its validity.