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

South Korean singer Taeil has left K-pop band NCT after being accused of an unspecified sexual offense, his label announced Wednesday.

The 30-year-old’s agency, SM Entertainment, released a statement regarding X, saying that the NCT member will be leaving the boy band after it was revealed that he “has been charged in a criminal case involving a sexual offense.”

The label did not provide details about the nature of the alleged crime, but said it “recognized the seriousness of the situation” and decided that Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, “may no longer continue his activities with the team.”

Taeil has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.

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

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

According to South Korean media, the Bangbae police station in Seoul has announced that it is investigating Taeil in connection with a sexual crime.

The BBC was unable to reach 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 two dozen members, divided into several sub-units including NCT 127, NCT Dream and NCT Wish.

Taeil was recently active in NCT 127.

On August 15 last year, Taeil was involved in a car accident in downtown Seoul, South Korea, while riding his motorcycle.

He temporarily halted his schedule to focus on treatment and recovery.

NCT is known for their experimental music across various genres and has gained international attention with a number of Billboard charting releases.

K-pop originates from South Korea and is a fusion of pop, R&B and hip hop.

It has become a global phenomenon, especially after the success of boy band BTS in the late 2010s.