NCT's TEN leaves SM Entertainment, co-founds creative company ILLIMNT

TEN has left SM Entertainment and co-founded ILLIMNT (일리멘트), a creative company that officially launched on July 6.

ILLIMNT operates as a creative hub. Music and culture. Visual art, fashion, original content, brand partnerships. The Thai-born artist debuted with NCT in 2016 and has worked across NCT, WayV, and SuperM. This is his first independent venture.

Projects are planned for South Korea, Thailand, China, and the United States this year, spanning music, performances, content, and brand collaborations.

TEN said: "ILLIMNT believes that creativity makes the impossible possible." He wants to help artists explore new possibilities while keeping their authenticity, and to create work that connects people across borders.

On the solo side, TEN released three projects since 2024: his debut solo mini album TEN, followed by STUNNER and Humanity. The pace suggests he's been building toward this independent infrastructure for a while.

No specific project titles or dates for ILLIMNT's 2026 slate have been announced yet.