I hope wherever he goes he'll be happy!
May I know why he leaves SM? Is it because of China-Korea issue?
Yea, this was my question too
May I know why he leaves SM? Is it because of China-Korea issue?
Contract renewal probably
Wishing him all the best with future activities 
I think this is what most people were expecting to happen. As long as he's happy and it seems to be an amicable parting.
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YIXING FREEDOM!!!!
I hope this doesn't affect his group activities....and he can comeback with EXO.
He did his best!
I wish him the greatest path!
This letter got me emotional. Now let me cry. 
I wish all the best for him, seems like it's a peaceful agreement from both sides
What group activities are you talking about the dude barley participated in the group activities since the 3 other Chinese members left
I'm gonna be honest, from what I see, he's an "Exo member" but not really you know? Like I doubt he would ever actually go back to Korea and do activities with Exo ever again. He might record something for the group's sake or maybe say/write something related to Exo but I feel like he has his own career and he's doing his own thing in China where it would be too much for him to actually go back and do legitimate stuff with Exo again
May I know why he leaves SM? Is it because of China-Korea issue?
probably decided to not renew since his contract is up. And i don't blame him for leaving! He doesn't need SM anymore and is successful on his own and managing his own company
this is really bittersweet but I saw it coming. I hope we will continue to see him with the other members 
To me Lay will always be an EXO member and the fact that he's stayed loyal for so long I'm really grateful for him
I wish him the best but I don't care much if he'll be involved in the group's activities, he barely was even when he was in the company.
I don't know if it was his choice or SM's choice to keep him in China for so long, but I do love his solo work and I hope that he remains happy and able to do what he loves doing, I wish him the best. He was always my fave in EXO so i'm glad to hear that he still considers himself part of them, and it would be great to see him collaborate with other members!
May I know why he leaves SM? Is it because of China-Korea issue?
Yea, this was my question too
SM has never been very good at navigating the waters in Chinese entertainment (you can see this with the piss poor management of WayV). When they intentionally created a separate studio for him to pursue his Chinese activities, he has done a lot of that work continuing to build that studio's work and his brand in China. Fundamentally, SM his still taking a piece of the pie that he has done all the work to shop for and bake, so it was clear once his contract ended, he would part ways since he's shown he can build a brand and manage the business side (whether that's taking a hands on role or knowing how to hire the right people, those are things SM couldn't do). The China-Korea political situation only made it easier to make this separation (it's hard to work a busy schedule in C-entertainment while running around also doing K-entertainment, but it probably could have been more balanced without the tensions).
None of us were surprised by this, I think - I was surprised that he came back for that last album, which was a lovely and wonderful gift to EXO-Ls who thought he'd never be in EXO again. I'm really hopeful he also has some sort of part in whatever 10th anniversary music we get before he says goodbye.
I do wish he would have announced it on a different day, like a few days after the anniversary, but such is life.
The path Lay made is exactly the same one being made for Winwin - his own studio, in partnership with a C-entertainment company that does the bulk of the work while SM gets a cut of the profits. In time, he too will leave SM.
Display MoreSM has never been very good at navigating the waters in Chinese entertainment (you can see this with the piss poor management of WayV). When they intentionally created a separate studio for him to pursue his Chinese activities, he has done a lot of that work continuing to build that studio's work and his brand in China. Fundamentally, SM his still taking a piece of the pie that he has done all the work to shop for and bake, so it was clear once his contract ended, he would part ways since he's shown he can build a brand and manage the business side (whether that's taking a hands on role or knowing how to hire the right people, those are things SM couldn't do). The China-Korea political situation only made it easier to make this separation (it's hard to work a busy schedule in C-entertainment while running around also doing K-entertainment, but it probably could have been more balanced without the tensions).
None of us were surprised by this, I think - I was surprised that he came back for that last album, which was a lovely and wonderful gift to EXO-Ls who thought he'd never be in EXO again. I'm really hopeful he also has some sort of part in whatever 10th anniversary music we get before he says goodbye.
I do wish he would have announced it on a different day, like a few days after the anniversary, but such is life.
The path Lay made is exactly the same one being made for Winwin - his own studio, in partnership with a C-entertainment company that does the bulk of the work while SM gets a cut of the profits. In time, he too will leave SM.
Thank you for detailing it so well. He dropped a song right? ISaidISaid and Kireta are locked in some onion factory in the other thread....
Display MoreSM has never been very good at navigating the waters in Chinese entertainment (you can see this with the piss poor management of WayV). When they intentionally created a separate studio for him to pursue his Chinese activities, he has done a lot of that work continuing to build that studio's work and his brand in China. Fundamentally, SM his still taking a piece of the pie that he has done all the work to shop for and bake, so it was clear once his contract ended, he would part ways since he's shown he can build a brand and manage the business side (whether that's taking a hands on role or knowing how to hire the right people, those are things SM couldn't do). The China-Korea political situation only made it easier to make this separation (it's hard to work a busy schedule in C-entertainment while running around also doing K-entertainment, but it probably could have been more balanced without the tensions).
None of us were surprised by this, I think - I was surprised that he came back for that last album, which was a lovely and wonderful gift to EXO-Ls who thought he'd never be in EXO again. I'm really hopeful he also has some sort of part in whatever 10th anniversary music we get before he says goodbye.
I do wish he would have announced it on a different day, like a few days after the anniversary, but such is life.
The path Lay made is exactly the same one being made for Winwin - his own studio, in partnership with a C-entertainment company that does the bulk of the work while SM gets a cut of the profits. In time, he too will leave SM.
i really wish this didn't come out today as well now im gonna be a mess all night
I'm gonna be honest, from what I see, he's an "Exo member" but not really you know? Like I doubt he would ever actually go back to Korea and do activities with Exo ever again. He might record something for the group's sake or maybe say/write something related to Exo but I feel like he has his own career and he's doing his own thing in China where it would be too much for him to actually go back and do legitimate stuff with Exo again
he was on every song on their last album, I could see him still recording on albums if the members ask him. He runs his own company so he wouldn't need clearance from anyone (beside SM) or anything like that.
Respect to him for seeing out his contract with SM unlike the 3 traitors.
Nah. Others were not treated well... So they left and it is valid for them....
merchie just posted the merchandise for exo's 10th anniversary and lay's photo was still in there so im praying this is a sign he is still in exo?? 
he was on every song on their last album, I could see him still recording on albums if the members ask him. He runs his own company so he wouldn't need clearance from anyone (beside SM) or anything like that.
Yeah like I said I can see him maybe recording something for them or maybe promoting them and stuff like that, but I don't really think he would ever go to Korea and actually properly promote with them again (it could be anything like filming the mv in person, doing variety/reality shows, music shows, etc.). I just don't see that happening, so tbh when I think of Exo I kinda think of him as an honorary member now
For what he said he just stopped being an SM employee. We know SM doesn't take having former employees who are still members of their groups very well.
but the situation with lay seems different. lee soo man himself appeared in lay's video about his own company chromosome congratulating him so i think he still has some connections to SM or at least its with good terms
Thank you for detailing it so well. He dropped a song right? ISaidISaid and Kireta are locked in some onion factory in the other thread....
He's released 4 very successful albums and another 4 EPs and he's a big seller in China, produces TV shows, has lots of CFs, acts..so he'll be fine.
oh and just dropped a new single..
Display MoreSM has never been very good at navigating the waters in Chinese entertainment (you can see this with the piss poor management of WayV). When they intentionally created a separate studio for him to pursue his Chinese activities, he has done a lot of that work continuing to build that studio's work and his brand in China. Fundamentally, SM his still taking a piece of the pie that he has done all the work to shop for and bake, so it was clear once his contract ended, he would part ways since he's shown he can build a brand and manage the business side (whether that's taking a hands on role or knowing how to hire the right people, those are things SM couldn't do). The China-Korea political situation only made it easier to make this separation (it's hard to work a busy schedule in C-entertainment while running around also doing K-entertainment, but it probably could have been more balanced without the tensions).
None of us were surprised by this, I think - I was surprised that he came back for that last album, which was a lovely and wonderful gift to EXO-Ls who thought he'd never be in EXO again. I'm really hopeful he also has some sort of part in whatever 10th anniversary music we get before he says goodbye.
I do wish he would have announced it on a different day, like a few days after the anniversary, but such is life.
The path Lay made is exactly the same one being made for Winwin - his own studio, in partnership with a C-entertainment company that does the bulk of the work while SM gets a cut of the profits. In time, he too will leave SM.
Thanks for the info! I also thought it is a logical reason for Chinese idols to leave the company if they have lot of things to wager and with the political issue between the two country it making it more easier to part ways.
Gtg crying
I doubt he will participate in exo' s activities.
But Exo is always be 9 in my heart, he will always be exo lay and also soloist zhang yixing. And I will keep cheering on him as an exol and xingmi
Thank you yixing for all these years thank you for being an exo member thank you for singing. Let's keep walking together
I hope he will be happy in any thing he does
If he doesn't return to EXO I will miss him with them but I understand completely
I think he will be returning to EXO. I have that gut feeling....
I think he will be returning to EXO. I have that gut feeling....
Hopefully 
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