Former NCT member Moon Taeil left the SM Entertainment K-pop boy group at the end of August 2024 after he was “charged in a criminal case involving a sexual offense.” The South Korean entertainment label also quickly released an official statement, “In assessing the facts related to this case, we recognized the severity of the issue and determined that he can no longer continue with the team’s activities. After discussing with Taeil, it has been decided that he will step down from the team,” as reported by Variety.
The case has largely stayed out of the spotlight, as specific details surrounding the allegations against Taeil are still unclear. Nevertheless, as the case progresses, Seoul Bangbae Police confirmed on September 13 that the former NCT singer’s sex crime case has been handed over to the prosecution. However, the accused has not been taken into custody.
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What do we know so far about the allegations against former NCT member Taeil?
The 30-year-old singer’s case raised a cloud of suspicion among K-pop fans when a female victim filed a police report against him in connection with a sex crime on June 13. However, the news only surfaced a month later. The authorities finally summoned Taeil on August 28. According to recent reports from South Korean media outlets, the Seoul Bangbae police have ensured that details about the case, labeled as a “sex crime” so far, will not be revealed to the public before the indictment. This protocol is being followed to ensure the safety of the victim (an adult woman).
When the police first called Taeil in for investigation, the initial report stated that “Taeil had not consumed drugs at the time of the crime.”
As soon as the news reached the public, NCT members unfollowed the oldest former band member from social media. Meanwhile, the accused himself made his SNS account private.
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NCT contracts further complicate the issue
Although Taeil has been removed from NCT and its subunits, NCT 127 and NCT U, his name still appears separately on the artist charts under SM Entertainment. In July 2023, the agency clarified that the members’ contracts would not expire until the end of 2024. A company spokesperson told Herald Business, “At the time NCT signed their contracts, we took into account elements such as their military enlistment and overseas activities, so their contract term was set to be longer than usual. [seven years],
“Though there are differences among different members, there is no member whose contract is expiring this year. All members have a common agenda.” [contracts] They are going to expire by the end of next year or so.”
The mention of Taeil on the SM website caused quite an uproar in the fan community when the charges against him were announced. As far as information about artists’ contracts goes, his name will likely remain included in the roster until the said contract period expires.
