K-pop singer Taeil leaves boy band NCT after allegations of sexual offenses

South Korean singer Taeil has left K-pop group NCT following allegations of an unspecified sex crime, his label announced on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old’s agency, SM Entertainment, issued a statement about X, announcing that the NCT member was leaving the boy band after learning of his involvement in “a criminal case related to a sex crime.”

While the label did not reveal details of the alleged crime, it stressed that it had “recognized the seriousness of the situation” and concluded that Taeil, whose real name is Moon Tae-il, could no longer “continue his activities with the team.”

Taeil has not made any public statements regarding the allegations.

SM Entertainment also stated that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.

“We will provide further comments as the investigation progresses,” said the statement, which was published in Korean and translated by the Associated Press.

According to South Korean media reports, the Bangbae Police Station in Seoul confirmed that Taeil was under investigation in connection with a sex crime.

The BBC was unable to obtain any comment from the police.

Taeil was a member of NCT (Neo Culture Technology), a very popular South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016.

The group currently consists of over two dozen members divided into several sub-units, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish.

Taeil was most recently active in NCT 127.

On August 15 last year, Taeil was involved in a motorcycle accident in downtown Seoul, South Korea.

He temporarily suspended his activities to focus on his treatment and recovery.

Known for their genre-bending experimental music, NCT has garnered international attention, with several of their releases charting on the Billboard charts.

K-Pop originates from South Korea, is a mix of pop, R&B and hip-hop and has become a global phenomenon, especially after the rise of the boy band BTS in the late 2010s.