After Leaving NCT, Mark Lee Launches His Own Label

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentAfter Leaving NCT, Mark Lee Launches His Own LabelByHannah Abraham,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hannah Abraham covers entertainment, culture and business.Follow AuthorJun 04, 2026, 09:36am EDTMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Mark Lee attends day 15 of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)Getty ImagesTwo months after ending a decade-long relationship with SM Entertainment, Mark Lee has taken the next step. On June 4, the Canadian rapper and singer officially launched Upper Room, his own independent label and agency. Lee will serve as co-CEO and creator, per the company's official announcement on Instagram.What Upper Room Means For Mark LeeUpper Room announced the company "will serve as the starting point for his music, vision, and the various projects he will pursue in the future, marking the beginning of a new chapter." The name also carries biblical significance (Mark has made references to his faith previously as well); Upper Room refers to the room in which the Last Supper took place in the Gospel of Mark, the same text whose author shares Mark Lee’s English name. The company’s launch video briefly references the biblical passage Mark 14:12-15.The latest Instagram post also includes Matthew 6:33, a verse that says “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”Upper Roommark lee/instagramThe post contained a message from Mark as well, saying:"In my view, the Upper Room — this prepared place — holds something beyond form, a quiet readiness… a moment suspended just before everything begins.MORE FOR YOUThere is a presence in it…not loud, but undeniable. A stillness that feels almost sacred — as if it has been waiting, long before arrival.Not empty, but gathered.Not silent, but listening. And within it… a voice be...