- Mark debuted in NCT less than four years ago, but has already made a name for himself
- He writes songs for NCT and SuperM, and acts as spokesman for the groups overseas
K-pop stars typically take a few years to build themselves up and break out in the industry. But then there are idols such as Mark Lee who seem destined to be huge.
The Canadian-born star only debuted on the K-pop scene in 2016, but has been racking up accomplishments like a seasoned star as a member of the boy bands NCT and SuperM.
From songwriting credits on singles to becoming the main spokesman for his groups overseas, Mark has a built up a resume of important, passionate work.
Learn more about Mark's remarkable rise so far.
His early life
He was born Mark Lee Min-hyung to Korean parents in Toronto, Canada, on August 2, 1999. His family moved to Vancouver when Mark was young and the city would eventually lead him to his K-pop career.
With encouragement from his older brother, a young Mark pursued his love of music by learning guitar and found a passion for writing and English at school. His professional music journey began after he was cast at a global audition in Vancouver held by K-pop label SM Entertainment which is home to many successful acts including BoA, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, Exo and more.
While Mark spent four years at the company before making his debut, he garnered a following as one of the "SM Rookies" " a group of promising young stars training at SM Entertainment.
Before he was part of any boy band, Mark appeared on reality shows such as Exo 90:2014, which starred senior SM group Exo, and a Korean version of The Mickey Mouse Club, on where he and several other SM Rookies members were mouseketeers.
His roles in NCT and SuperM
From his very first song, Mark was a force to be reckoned with.
SM Entertainment's ambitious NCT boy band project " where an infinite number of groups made from an unlimited amount of members can be created and promoted around the world under the "NCT" brand " began with the introduction of NCT U. The first NCT U group in 2016 featured Mark alongside Korean band mates Taeyong, Doyoung and Jaehuyn, as well as another international member in the Thailand-born Ten.
The NCT brand has expanded to include several different groups including NCT 127 (the Seoul-based boy band which Mark also belongs to), NCT Dream, WayV and NCT U (the universal group that any NCT member can release music under).
Mark has contributed lyrics to several singles by all of his units. He's written for NCT 127 (including singles such as Fire Truck, Cherry Bomb and Regular), NCT Dream (My First and Last, We Go Up) and NCT U (Boss).
Most recently, Mark was chosen as one of seven members of SM Entertainment's "supergroup" boy band SuperM, which also includes Shinee's Taemin, Exo's Baekhyun and Kai, as well as his NCT band mates Taeyong and WayV's Lucas and Ten.
His solo work
While Mark is a member of multiple groups, he has also produced an impressive output as a solo artist.
In September 2016, Mark dropped his first solo release, What to Do. The single was recorded alongside Henry Lau, a fellow Canada native active in K-pop and under SM Entertainment, for the Korean TV drama Sweet Stranger and Me.
In the summer of 2017, Mark collaborated with fellow another SM star Xiumin of Exo seniors on the track Young & Free. He also joined a variety show Snowball Project that focuses on producers and songwriters. The show eventually delivered the single Lemonade Love that featured Mark and ballad singer Park Jae-jung. In late 2018, Mark worked with Red Velvet's Joy on the song Dream Me, featured on the soundtrack single for the K-drama The Ghost Detective.
His image
Despite his obvious musical talent, Mark is still one of the youngest members of the NCT collective.
In one 2018 episode of popular K-pop TV show Idol Room, Mark's NCT 127 bandmates held a competition to decide who was "Mark's other half". The entertaining segment revealed that member Doyoung had a poster of Mark on his bedroom ceiling and Jungwoo was enamoured by his dimples.
During US promotions for NCT 127 and SuperM, Mark often acts as a translator for his groups. Both acts have had huge media opportunities such as performances and interviews on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Good Morning America.
In his own words
"What we're doing, and what we're doing on this tour, is not something that should be thought about lightly," he told the crowd during NCT 127's first US arena show at the massive Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, last year.
"Bringing K-pop, there's a significance to that and I'm very grateful. Thank you so much for showing up today. I'm going to be honest, before we even started the tour, I was nervous because we have to bring this K-pop culture and all that we do to North America. I want to thank you guys for allowing us to do what we do. I think that's the best relationship that any performer can have."
Even with such a packed schedule, Mark says being so active is helping him live a more full life.
"Being busy means that there's an opportunity soon," he said in a 2017 year-end interview with XPN. "I get pleasure from being busy. Being busy is the process of refining myself, so I want to live life to the fullest."
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