South Korean singer Taeil has departed from the K-pop band NCT following accusations of an unspecified sexual crime, according to an announcement made by his label on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old’s agency, SM Entertainment, released a statement on X, saying the NCT member will depart from the boy band after learning he has been “accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime”.
The label did not specify the nature of the alleged crime but said it “recognised the seriousness of the situation” and decided Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, can no longer “continue his activities with the team”.
Taeil has not publicly commented on the allegations.
SM Entertainment added that he is fully cooperating with the police investigation.
“We will provide further statements as the investigation progresses,” the statement, which was posted in Korean and translated by Associated Press, said.
The Bangbae Police Station in Seoul has announced it is investigating Taeil in connection with a sexual crime, according to South Korean media.
The BBC has been unable to obtain a comment from the police.
Taeil was a member of NCT (Neo Culture Technology), a globally renowned South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016.
NCT consists of over two dozen members divided into several subunits, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish. Taeil was recently active with NCT 127.
On August 15 of last year, Taeil was involved in a motorcycle accident in downtown Seoul, which led him to temporarily suspend his activities to focus on treatment and recovery.
NCT is known for its experimental music across various genres and has achieved international success, with some of its releases charting on Billboard lists.
K-pop, which originated in South Korea, blends pop, R&B, and hip-hop and has become a global phenomenon, especially following the rise of BTS in the late 2010s.
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