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SM Entertainment, the powerhouse behind some of K-pop’s biggest names, has announced the removal of NCT’s Taeil from the group following sex crime allegations.

The agency, home to groups such as Aespa, Riize, and Super Junior, released an official statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) confirming that the 30-year-old singer has been implicated in a criminal investigation related to an unspecified sexual crime, reported Variety.

According to the statement, Taeil is currently under investigation and is “fully cooperating” with the authorities. SM Entertainment emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that after assessing the facts, they determined that Taeil could no longer continue his activities with NCT.

Following discussions with the artist, both parties agreed that it was best for Taeil to withdraw from the group. The agency also issued an apology to fans and the public, expressing regret over the controversy surrounding their artist.

NCT, which stands for Neo Culture Technology, is known for its unique concept of having a very large number of members. It currently has 26 members. The group has several sub-units, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV, among others.

Taeil was a prominent member of both the main NCT unit and the sub-unit NCT 127, contributing to their global success. This incident marks a significant setback for the group, which has enjoyed substantial success both in South Korea and internationally.

NCT 127’s Sticker — The Third Album, released in 2021, achieved notable success in the United States, debuting at No 3 on the Billboard 200 chart with 3.6 million streams. The album’s success was bolstered by K-pop’s marketing strategy of releasing multiple deluxe physical editions, a common practice in the industry.

The scandal surrounding Taeil is not the first time SM Entertainment has faced controversy involving its artists. Earlier this year, the agency had to address allegations against NCT members Johnny and Haechan, as well as Heechul from Super Junior, regarding their alleged involvement in inappropriate activities with bar hostesses. SM Entertainment denied the rumours at the time.