SM Entertainment announced Taeil‘s departure from NCT on August 28, 2024. The K-pop company made a statement regarding why Taeil was removed from the group.
Taeil was a trainee under SM Entertainment from 2013 to 2015 and was in the pre-debut group SM Rookies. He debuted in NCT‘s rotational unit NCT U on April 9, 2016, and later debuted in the fixed subunit NCT 127 in July of that year. Four members of the 25 member group have left in the past couple of years. Lucas left the group in 2023 after a two-year hiatus, while Shotaro and Sungchan left in 2023 to be in SM’s new boy group RIIZE.
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Why was Taeil removed from NCT?
SM posted on their social media accounts that Taeil was removed after he was “accused in a criminal case related to a sexual offense.”
“As we were assessing the facts related to the matter, we recognized the severity of the situation and determined that Taeil can no longer continue his activities with the team (NCT),” the K-pop company wrote in their statement, via Soompi. “After discussing with Taeil, we have decided on his departure from the group.”
SM continued that Taeil is “currently cooperating fully with the police investigation”, while the company is continuing to provide updates as the investigation continues. “We deeply apologise for the concern and distress caused by our artist.”
Despite being removed from NCT, Korea’s JoongAng Daily reported that Taeil’s contract with SM Entertainment has not been terminated.
Due to the sex crime allegations, NCT 127’s members’ schedules have been postponed. The company announced that Mark and Haechan, who are also in NCT DREAM, postponed their fancalls for DREAM( )SCAPE album. Jaehyun’s fancalls for his solo album J have also been postponed.
