260608 | 📰 TCIJ Thai article #MARK
"As the closing act of the opening ceremony, MARK LEE was accorded the prestigious honor of performing before global leaders and high-ranking UN executives."
Full: https://t.co/zu3FEiP3yI
#MarkLee#마크리
Pop culture meets Planetary Protection: Mark Lee at WED [World Environment Day] 2026
Capturing the absolute spotlight of the younger generation during the opening ceremony at the iconic Heydar Aliyev Center was the appearance of MARK LEE, a former member of the prominent groups NCT and SuperM. This marked his inaugural official public appearance since the expiration of his contract with his long-time agency, SM Entertainment, in April 2026.
This UN appearance signifies a monumental turning point in Mark's professional trajectory, serving as a definitive proclamation of his autonomy as an independent artist. The performance materialized just days after the debut of his self-established creative enterprise, Upper Room (registered under his legal name, Lee Mark). No longer operating within the conventional boundaries of a traditional idol, Mark now assumes the dual roles of Creator and Co-CEO of his own label. Upper Room will serve as the primary conduit through which he directs all his musical, visual, and performance endeavors moving forward.
As the closing act of the opening ceremony, MARK LEE was accorded the prestigious honor of performing before global leaders and high-ranking UN executives. He delivered an intimate, unreleased acoustic solo track titled "Ready or Not." The composition was conceived during his excursion to the UNEP Global Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and his visit to the Maasai Mara National Reserve earlier in 2026. Immersing himself in the majesty of the natural world and engaging firsthand with UN personnel regarding the environmental crisis provided the profound inspiration for him to articulate planetary protection through his unique artistic lens.
Mark's performance thus served as a poignant metaphor for a "new beginning" and a collective stride forward to salvage the global ecosystem, perfectly mirroring the #NowForClimate ethos. To further amplify this momentum, Mark actively participated in the Climate Dance Challenge, performing the "Climate Limbo" alongside fellow environmental activists to galvanize the youth and foster a heightened sense of ecological responsibility.
ready or not - mark lee (cover)
wanted to share this here too.
this song hit me way harder than i expected. can’t wait for the official release🥺
—ready or not, i guess we’re just going with it.