NCT’s Taeil has departed from the group following allegations of a serious crime, and the news has left fans in turmoil.
On the 28th, SM Entertainment released a statement confirming that Taeil had been accused of a criminal offense. “We recently confirmed that Taeil has been named in a criminal case related to a sexual offense,” the agency stated. “Given the gravity of the situation, we have determined that he can no longer continue his activities with the group and have decided, after discussion with Taeil, that he will leave NCT.”
Adding to the controversy, the Seoul Bangbae Police Station announced today (August 29th) that Taeil had been booked on charges of sexual misconduct in June and is currently under investigation. However, an official clarified that the allegations do not involve a minor or same-sex victim.
This sudden announcement has caused a wave of shock and confusion among NCT’s fanbase. The abrupt departure, paired with the serious nature of the accusations, has led many fans to express their concerns and frustration. Comments from fans included, “‘Gravity of the situation’? What did he do?” and “I’ve never seen them announce something like ‘related to a sexual offense’ first.”
In the wake of the news, NCT members have unfollowed Taeil on social media. Members of NCT 127—Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Mark, Haechan, and Jungwoo—as well as members from NCT Dream and WayV, have removed Taeil from their follower lists. Some members even went so far as to unfollow all other members, which has drawn additional attention.
SM Entertainment’s official accounts have also removed Taeil from their follower lists, as fans continue to express their shock and disappointment, erasing his presence from their fandom activities.
Following the news, Taeil’s Instagram follower count dropped overnight from approximately 6 million to 5.36 million. Fans are also expressing frustration over the postponement of scheduled events, including fan signings for members Mark and Haechan, and a solo fan signing event for Jaehyun, all of which have been impacted by Taeil’s controversy.
The news has sent shockwaves through both domestic and international K-pop communities. Just last month, NCT 127 released their sixth studio album, WALK, and Taeil was actively participating in promotions. He even attended the group’s 8th-anniversary fan meeting three weeks ago, making the recent developments all the more surprising.
