South Korean singer Taeil has left K-pop group NCT after being accused of unspecified sexual crimes, his management company announced on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old singer’s management company, SM Entertainment, released a statement about X, saying the NCT member would be leaving the boy band after learning he was “charged in a criminal case involving sexual crimes.”
The label did not specify the nature of the alleged crime but said it “recognized the seriousness of the situation” and decided Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, could not “continue activities with the group”.
Taeil has not commented publicly on the allegations.
SM Entertainment added that he is fully cooperating with the police investigation.
“We will provide more information as the investigation progresses,” said the statement, posted in Korean and translated by The Associated Press.
According to Korean media, Bangbae Police Station in Seoul announced that they are investigating Taeil for involvement in sex crimes.
The BBC was unable to contact the police for comment.
Taeil is a member of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, a globally popular South Korean boy group that debuted in 2016.
The group currently has over two dozen members divided into several subgroups, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish.
Taeil is currently 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 temporarily postponed his work schedule to focus on treatment and recovery.
Known for their experimental music that spans multiple genres, NCT has gained international attention with several Billboard chart-topping releases.
K-pop originated in South Korea and is a combination of pop, R&B, and hip-hop music.
It has grown into a global phenomenon, especially following the success of boy band BTS in the late 2010s.
