NCT’s Taeil Leaves Band Following Sex Crime Accusation, Label Says

Hannah Dailey
·2 min read

Taeil is no longer part of NCT, with SM Entertainment announcing Wednesday (Aug. 28) that the 30-year-old K-pop idol has left the group following an accusation of an unspecified sex crime.

According SM’s statement shared with Billboard, Taeil withdrew from the band and is currently fully cooperating with police investigation. “We have recently learned that TAEIL has been accused of a criminal case related to a sexual offense,” the statement reads.

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“While assessing the facts related to this matter, we recognized the severity of the issue and determined that he can no longer continue team activities,” it continues. “After discussing with TAEIL, it’s been decided that he will withdraw from the team … We deeply apologize for the controversy caused by our artist.”

No further details about the nature of his alleged crime have been released. AP reports that police declined to comment on the matter.

Taeil was part of both NCT and the sub-group NCT 127, which released its sixth studio album WALK in July. His activity in the acts had been limited over the past year as he recovered from a serious motorcycle accident in August 2023, which required him to have surgery and take a hiatus in order to focus on his rehabilitation. In October, SM Entertainment released an update saying that the performer still needed “sufficient treatment and stability” after the procedure, confirming he would not be able to participate in NCT 127’s Neo City – The Unity Tour that kicked off in November.

The South Korean star’s departure comes nearly two months after two other NCT 127 members — Johnny and Haechan — were accused online of being involved in a sex scandal, which SM strongly denied. The label also threatened legal action against social media accounts that circulated the rumors, stating at the time, “We have already gathered sufficient evidence regarding numerous posts related to these matters … we will not overlook such criminal acts and will take legal action against those involved without leniency or settlement, regardless of their nationality.”

See SM’s statement about Taeil posted in Korean to X below.

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