Taeil, a South Korean singer, has quit the K-pop band NCT after being accused of an alleged sexual crime, his label confirmed on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old’s agency, SM Entertainment, issued a statement on X, stating that the NCT member will leave the boy band after learning he has been “accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime”.
The label did not detail the nature of the alleged crime, but stated that it “recognised the seriousness of the situation” and concluded Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, could no longer “continue his activities with the team”.
Taeil has not publicly responded to the charges.
SM Entertainment stated that he is completely working with the police inquiry.
“We will provide further statements as the investigation progresses,” according to the statement, which was issued in Korean and translated by the Associated Press.
According to South Korean media, the Bangbae Police Station in Seoul has announced that Taeil is under investigation for a sexual crime.
The BBC was unable to reach the police for comment.
Taeil was a member of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, a worldwide successful South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016.
The group presently includes about two dozen members, separated into many sections such as NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish.
Taeil recently participated in NCT 127.
Taeil was involved in an automobile accident while riding his motorcycle in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on August 15, last year.
He temporarily paused his schedule to concentrate on treatment and recuperation.
NCT, known for experimental music spanning multiple genres, has earned international acclaim, with certain recordings reaching Billboard charts.
K-pop began in South Korea and combines pop, R&B, and hip-hop.
It has become a global craze, notably with the popularity of the boy band BTS in the late 2010s.