What’s driving the recent wave of K-pop idol departures

A recent wave of departures by popular idols — from Heeseung of Enhypen to Mark and Ten of NCT — has surprised fans, with multiple members leaving their groups within a single month. Industry insiders, however, say such moves are not unusual, particularly among idols in the later stages of their careers. They point to a combination of artistic ambition, contract cycles and the growing financial independence enabled by social media.