K-pop singer Taeil leaves boy band over sex crime allegations

South Korean singer Taeil’s record label announced Wednesday that he has withdrawn from K-pop band NCT after being accused of an unspecified sexual offense.

SM Entertainment, X’s agency, released a statement saying the NCT member would be leaving the group after learning that he was “charged in a criminal case involving a sex crime.”

The company did not specify the nature of the alleged crime but said it “realized the seriousness of the situation” and decided that Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, could no longer “continue his activities with the team.”

Tyler has not publicly commented on the allegations.

SM Entertainment added that it is fully cooperating with the police investigation.

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

Seoul’s Bangbae Police Department said it is investigating Taeil in connection with a sex crime, according to South Korean media.

The BBC was unable to reach the police for comment.

Taeil was part of NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, a globally popular South Korean boy band that debuted in 2016.

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

Taeil has recently been active in NCT 127.

On August 15 of last year, Thaeil was involved in a car accident in downtown Seoul, South Korea, while traveling on his motorcycle.

He put his schedule on hold to focus on treatment and recovery.

Known for their experimental music that spans various genres, NCT has gained international attention with some releases appearing on the Billboard charts.

K-pop originated in South Korea and is a mix of pop, R&B, and hip-hop.

It has become a global phenomenon, especially after the success of BTS in the late 2000s.