Bring Ten Home: Fans Demand Better Treatment For NCT’s Ten From SM Entertainment 

Fans are calling out SM Entertainment, alleging that the agency is not treating one NCT member fairly.

In 2021, Ten joined the cast of The Great Dance Crew, a Chinese dance competition show where street dancers compete to be named the top dance crew. Ten is one of the show’s team leaders, along with several other seasoned idols, including WSJN’s Cheng Xiao and Miss A’s Fei.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 outbreaks and China’s strict pandemic policies, The Great Dance Crew has experienced filming delays, during which Ten stayed in Shanghai (the show’s filming location). This caused him to miss out on NCT promotions and more.

Shanghai (current filming location) has had an outbreak, there have been about 2000 cases. However, the city still maintains stability. The contestants still go to work, but the recording schedule is likely to be delayed.

🍉total of 4/10 episodes were recorded#GreatDanceCrew pic.twitter.com/RNnw4QwZyl

— Unofficial Fan Account: GREAT DANCE CREW (@greatdancecrew) March 27, 2022

to shoot ‘Great Dance Crew’. Went there Sep 21. Shooting delayed but they kept him there . Not coming back for NCT2021 promo & smtown online concert but still sell his merch. Actual shooting start in Feb 22 and now pause due to lockdown since mid of Mar 22.

— Peanut 🐰TENxGreatDanceCrew (@pnbox14) April 28, 2022

Shanghai is currently in a city-wide lockdown, which grows direr by the day. Residents have reported food shortages, limited to no medical access, and extreme mental anguish.

In Shanghai, people are screaming out of their windows.

China’s “Zero-Covid” policy is a disaster for human rights. pic.twitter.com/vlM93PTuYs

— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) April 22, 2022

In light of Shanghai’s lockdown, some NCTzens are now calling for SM Entertainment to either bring Ten back to Korea or to his family in Thailand.

SM Entertainment
Please Treat Ten Better and Bring him back to Korea where is safer for him right now.
The situation in Shanghai is getting worse. We are very worried about his safety. Please, Pay Great Attention to him and the Petition from the Fans. #SMTreatTENBetter #TENLEE

— Zing พาเตนล์กลับเกา (@UncannyING) April 28, 2022

With the high risky situation in Shanghai and unable to specify the duration of the lockdown. We hope that SM will bring TEN out of these situations as soon as possible. His safety is the most important.
‼️ bring TEN back to Korea‼️@SMTOWNGLOBAL#SMTreatTENBetter

— ♡นางฟ้าน้องเตน♡ (@Nunnnii) April 27, 2022

I believe that @SMTOWNGLOBAL always knows this issue. You should treat TEN better !! First of all, take him back to Korea or his family in Thailand to heal his mind and heart. Ten is amazing guys and has a lot of abilities. Hope to see your taking action soon!!#SMTreatTENBetter pic.twitter.com/xmeL06WKLw

— SEHUN is my HAPPINESS ♡ (@Rosetour_shyy) April 27, 2022

Fans are worried about Ten’s safety and mental health, but also his lack of activities. In a recent live broadcast, Ten told fans, “I’m doing nothing really. I’ll just like wait, wait, wait for another shooting to start. Just waiting for everything to settle down then start doing my stuff.” 

November 2021 >> Your tennie always have plans hihihihi

April 2022 >> I’m just doing nothing really just wait wait and wait#SMTreatTENBetter
pic.twitter.com/MTrujQ6FbM

— Peanut 🐰TENxGreatDanceCrew (@pnbox14) April 27, 2022

Fans’ frustrations stem from current events, but also from an alleged history of mistreatment that they say Ten has endured throughout his career at SM Entertainment.

Why is it that TEN is always treated so poorly by the agency??
I began to have reservations about the company's attitude toward foreign artists. #SMTreatTENBetter @SMTOWNGLOBAL @NCTsmtown @WayV_official

— ลหเฮียเตนล์ (@chitlee1010) April 27, 2022

Why does someone have to sacrifice so much just to get so little? Let alone the better treatment Ten deserves, now @SMTOWNGLOBAL can’t even provide him the proper fundamental needs. I’m beyond disgusted. #SMTreatTENBetter

— not so joy(ful)💅🏼 (@JoySuchapa) April 27, 2022

Now, some fans are tweeting the hashtags #SMTreatTENBetter and #bringtenbacktokorea to draw attention to the issue, hoping SM Entertainment will take action soon.

To : @SMTOWNGLOBAL
The situation in Shanghai, China is now in a critical state using inhumane prevention measures against COVID!
by forbidding people from leaving their homes and having fenced around the houses of the people #bringTENbacktoKorea #TENLEE #SMtreatTENbetter pic.twitter.com/7owc1JRi7E

— Surf Sakvaritch 🍂 #ซักทีสิวะปุณณ์ (@AViktor_yang) April 26, 2022