South Korean singer Taeil has left K-pop group NCT after being accused of an unspecified sex crime, his label announced Wednesday.
The 30-year-old’s agency, SM Entertainment, released a statement on X, stating that the NCT member would be leaving the boy group after learning that he had been “charged in a criminal case related to a sex crime.”
The label did not elaborate on the nature of the alleged crime but said it “recognized the seriousness of the situation” and had decided that Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, could no longer “continue his activities with the team.”
Taeil has not publicly commented on the allegations.
SM Entertainment added that it is fully cooperating with the police investigation.
“We will provide further statements as the investigation progresses,” said the statement, released in Korean and translated by the Associated Press.
Bangbae Police Station in Seoul announced that it is investigating Taeil in connection with a sex crime, according to South Korean media.
The BBC was unable to reach police for comment.
Taeil was part of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, a globally popular South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016.
The group currently has over two dozen members divided into several subunits, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish.
Taeil was recently active in NCT 127.
On August 15 last year, Taeil was involved in a car accident in downtown Seoul, South Korea while riding a motorcycle.
He has temporarily suspended his schedule to focus on his treatment and recovery.
Known for their experimental music spanning different genres, NCT has gained international attention with some of their releases charting on Billboard charts.
K-pop originated in South Korea and is a mix of pop, R&B, and hip-hop.
It became a global phenomenon, especially after the success of boy band BTS in the late 2010s.
