South Korean singer Taeil has left K-pop band NCT amid allegations of sexual offences, his agency announced Wednesday.
SM Entertainment, the management company of 30-year-old X, released a statement about X, announcing that the NCT member was leaving the boy band after learning that he had been “accused of a criminal case related to sexual offenses.”
The label did not specify what crimes he was accused of but said it “recognized the seriousness of the situation” and decided that Taeil, whose real name is Moon Tae-il, could no longer “continue to work with the team.”
Thayil has not commented publicly on the allegations.
SM Entertainment added that it is fully cooperating with the police investigation.
“We will issue further statements as the investigation progresses,” said the statement, posted in Korean and translated by The Associated Press.
According to South Korean media, the Seoul Bangbae Police Station announced that it was investigating Taeil in connection with sexual crimes.
The BBC has approached police for comment but was unable to contact them.
Taeil was a member of NCT (Neo Culture Technology), a globally popular South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016.
Currently, the group has over 20 members and is divided into several subunits, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish.
Taeil was recently active in NCT 127.
On August 15th of last year, Taeil was involved in a traffic accident while riding a motorcycle in Seoul, South Korea.
He has temporarily halted his schedule to focus on his treatment and recovery.
Known for their experimental music across a variety of genres, NCT has garnered international attention with several releases making it onto Billboard lists.
K-Pop originates from South Korea and is a fusion of pop, R&B and hip hop.
It has grown into a global phenomenon, especially since the success of boy band BTS in the late 2010s.
