SM Entertainment, the K-pop agency behind NCT, Aespa, Riize, and others, has announced that a member of NCT has been removed from the group following allegations of sexual abuse.
In a statement posted on X, SM Entertainment revealed that 30-year-old Taeil was "accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime." The agency's spokesperson told Variety, "Upon assessing the situation and recognizing the seriousness of the issue, we have decided that Taeil can no longer participate in group activities. After discussions with Taeil, it has been decided that he will withdraw from the group."
SM Entertainment added that Taeil is "fully cooperating" with an ongoing police investigation and apologized for the "controversy caused by our artist."
NCT, the original unit of the NCT universe—SM Entertainment’s expansive boy-band project—features multiple sub-units including NCT 127 and NCT Dream. Taeil was a member of both the main NCT unit and the NCT 127 sub-unit.
Earlier this year, SM Entertainment also addressed another scandal involving NCT members Johnny and Haechan, along with Heechul of Super Junior. Allegations surfaced online accusing Heechul of engaging in sexual affairs with bar hostesses, which SM Entertainment denied.
NCT 127’s album "Sticker — The Third Album" was their highest-charting release in the United States, peaking at No. 3 in 2021 with 3.6 million streams. The album was the best-selling of its debut week, benefiting from the K-pop industry's strategy of offering deluxe physical packages.
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