Singer Taeil is leaving Okay-pop group NCT over sex-crime allegation

South Korean singer Taeil is leaving the Okay-pop group NCT over a intercourse crime allegation.

The South Korean singer’s company, SM Leisure, introduced Wednesday that the 30-year-old will depart after lately confirming that Taeil “has been accused of a prison case associated to intercourse crimes.”

Though the label didn’t specify the alleged crimes, an English translation of its X assertion mentioned, “We acknowledged the seriousness of the problem, and now we have determined that Taeil can not proceed workforce actions.”

“We’ve got mentioned this matter with Taeil, and it has been determined that he’ll go away the group,” the label mentioned, including that he’s “faithfully engaged on the police investigation.” SM additionally apologized “for the controversy brought on by our artist.”

The band, which debuted as Neo Tradition Know-how in 2016, is understood for its genre-jumping experimental music. It has greater than a dozen members who’re divided into subgroups, together with NCT 127, NCT Dream and NCT Want. Taeil, 30, was most lately concerned in NCT 127 and promoted the group’s sixth LP, “Stroll,” which was launched in July. His NCT bandmate Jaehyun launched a solo album earlier this week.

The report of a prison case couldn’t be independently verified, and police declined to remark, based on the Related Press. Korea JoongAng Day by day reported that regardless of Taeil’s departure from NCT, his contract with SM Leisure has not been terminated.

In accordance with Billboard, Taeil’s participation within the group has been restricted over the previous yr whereas he recovered from an August 2023 motorbike accident. The singer required surgical procedure and went on hiatus to concentrate on his rehabilitation. SM Leisure mentioned in October that he nonetheless wanted “enough therapy” after the process, leading to him bowing out of the NCT 127 tour that launched in November.