South Korean singer Taeil has departed from the K-pop group NCT following allegations of an unspecified sexual crime, according to an announcement from his label on Wednesday.
SM Entertainment, Taeil’s agency, shared the news on X, stating that the 30-year-old member is stepping down from the boy band after his involvement in “a criminal case related to a sexual crime” came to light.
Although the label did not provide specific details about the allegations, they acknowledged the gravity of the situation and determined that Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, could no longer “continue his activities with the team.”
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Taeil has not publicly addressed the accusations, but SM Entertainment confirmed that he is fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation. The label indicated that further statements would be made as the investigation progresses.
The Bangbae Police Station in Seoul has confirmed that they are investigating Taeil in relation to the sexual crime allegations, according to South Korean media reports. The BBC has been unable to obtain additional comments from the police.
Taeil was a member of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, a popular South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016. The group, which includes over two dozen members, is divided into several subunits such as NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish. Taeil was most recently active with NCT 127.
Last August, Taeil was involved in a motorcycle accident in downtown Seoul, which led him to temporarily pause his activities to focus on his recovery.
NCT is known for its innovative music across various genres and has achieved international recognition, with some releases charting on Billboard. The K-pop genre, which originated in South Korea, blends pop, R&B, and hip-hop, and has gained global popularity, especially following the success of BTS in the late 2010s.
