K-Pop Group NCT’s Taeil Has Quit The Boy Band After He Was Accused Of Being Involved In A Sex Crime Case
Taeil's label said that the 30-year-old, whose real name is Moon Tae-il, had left the group after being “involved in a sex crime case.”
K-pop singer Taeil has quit the group NCT after he was accused of sexual assault, his label, SM Entertainment, announced on X on Wednesday, Aug 28.
His label said that the 30-year-old, whose real name is Moon Tae-il, had left the group after being “involved in a sex crime case.”
“We have decided, taking the gravity of the case, that he cannot continue his team activities. He has decided to leave the team after talks with the company,” the label said.
According to South Korean police, Taeil was formally charged in June after they received a sexual misconduct complaint.
Police told Korean outlet JoongAng Daily that the crime was alleged sexual assault but said it was “not against a minor or a male” following speculation on social media that the singer had assaulted either a minor or a younger boy.
However, despite being charged with a sex crime, the singer continued to take part in his group’s album release and promotions in mid-July.
However, SM Entertainment has denied that it had covered up the alleged sex crime.
It said the police received the report in June but did not notify Taeil that he was being investigated until August.
SM Entertainment has not terminated its contract with Taeil despite him leaving the group.
Taeil debuted in NCT in 2016, joining its central unit, NCT 127. The lead singer took time off group promotions for several months from August 2023, following a traffic accident.
The 30-year-old is not the first to leave the group due to controversy. Previously, Lucas Wong left the group in May 2023 after his ex-girlfriend accused him of gaslighting and cheating on her.
The day before the statement was released, his group members, Mark and Haechan, canceled their planned video call fan signings.
Fellow member Jaehyun, who has recently released an album, has also since indefinitely postponed a fan signing after the statement was released.
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