K-pop star Taeil quits NCT boy band over sex crime allegations: What we know | Crime News

EXPLANATION

His label SM Entertainment says investigations are ongoing but does not provide any details about the sex crime.

South Korean singer Taeil has left his K-pop band Neo Culture Technology (NCT) after being accused of an unspecified sex crime, his label announced on Wednesday.

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Who is Taeil?

Moon Tae-il, 30, better known by his nickname Taeil, is a singer and songwriter. He was born in South Korea's capital Seoul.

His singing career began in 2013 when he was discovered by his label SM Entertainment. In 2016, he joined NCT when the boy band made its debut. He was the main vocalist of the band.

SM Entertainment has many successful K-pop bands under its wing, including the world-famous boy band Exo.

NCT is divided into sub-units, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, NCT Dojaejung, and NCT Wish. Taeil was most recently active in NCT 127.

In August 2023, the singer had a traffic accident while riding his motorcycle in Seoul. He underwent surgery and temporarily suspended his performances.

Why did Taeil leave NCT?

SM Entertainment released a statement on X on Wednesday, saying that Taeil left NCT after being accused of a “criminal case involving a sexual crime.” Details of the sexual crime were not provided.

SM’s statement has now been viewed over 100 million times.

The label added that the accused singer is cooperating with the investigation being conducted by the Bangbae Police Station in Seoul.

Current cases of “sexual misconduct” among K-pop stars

• In January, prosecutors demanded a seven-year prison sentence for former K-pop singer Himchan of the disbanded boy band BAP for sexual assault, local media reported.
• In April 2023, The Straits Times reported that an unnamed K-pop singer was accused of attacking a friendly group for over four years.
• In August 2021, K-pop singers Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon were sentenced to prison for sexual assault.

When K-Pop stars became victims

K-pop singers have reported being subjected to, among other things, sexual exploitation by their agencies.

• In November 2022, members of the boy band Omega X asked a South Korean judge to release them from a multi-year contract with their agency Spire Entertainment. They were particularly unhappy with the behavior of agency head Kang Seong-hee during a performance in Los Angeles in October 2022. Kang resigned but denied any wrongdoing.
• In 2019, K-pop singers and brothers Lee Seok-cheol and Lee Seung-hyun accused their producer and agency of assaulting and verbally threatening them. The court fined their agency and sent the producer to prison.