K-Pop Star Taeil Exits NCT Amidst Sexual Crime Accusation

South Korean singer Taeil has departed from the globally popular K-pop group NCT after being accused of an unspecified sexual crime, his agency announced on Wednesday.

SM Entertainment, Taeil's label, released a statement on X confirming the departure. The agency acknowledged that the NCT member had been "accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime," without disclosing further details about the nature of the alleged offence.

"We recognise the seriousness of the issue, and we have decided that Taeil can no longer continue team activities," the statement read. "We have discussed this matter with Taeil, and it has been decided that he will leave the group." SM Entertainment added that Taeil is fully cooperating with the police investigation.

Taeil was a member of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, which debuted in 2016 and has since become one of the most popular K-pop acts globally. The group currently comprises over two dozen members, divided into several subunits, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and NCT Wish. Taeil had recently been actively involved with NCT 127. Known for its experimental music, spanning various genres, NCT has garnered international acclaim, with some of its releases charting on Billboard lists.

SM Entertainment's statement on X garnered over 45.7 million views within just three hours, highlighting the significant public interest in the case.

The report of a criminal case could not be independently verified at this time, and the police declined to comment.

K-pop, originating in South Korea, is a fusion of Western pop, R&B, and hip-hop sounds, combined with elements of Korean culture. It has become a global phenomenon, particularly after the rise of the boy band BTS in the late 2010s.