SM Entertainment announced Taeil’s departure from NCT on August 28, 2024. The K-pop company issued a statement regarding the reasons for Taeil’s exclusion from the group.

Taeil was a trainee at SM Entertainment from 2013 to 2015 and was part of the pre-debut group SM Rookies. He debuted in NCT’s rotation unit NCT U on April 9, 2016, and later in the permanent sub-unit NCT 127 in July of the same year. Four members of the 25-member group have left the group in recent 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.

Related: See when SEVENTEEN members are expected to join the military

Why was Taeil removed from NCT?

SM posted on its social media accounts that Taeil was removed after he was “charged in a criminal case related to a sexual offense.”

“When we assessed the facts of this case, we recognized the seriousness of the situation and concluded that Taeil can no longer continue his activities with the team (NCT),” the K-pop company wrote in its statement via Soompi. “After consulting with Taeil, we have decided on his departure from the group.”

SM went on to say that Taeil is “currently cooperating fully with the police investigation,” while the company continues to provide updates as the investigation progresses. “We deeply apologize for the concern and distress our artist has caused.”

Despite his dismissal from NCT, Korea’s JoongAng Daily reported that Taeil’s contract with SM Entertainment was not terminated.

Due to the allegations of sexual crimes, the dates of the members of NCT 127 have been postponed. The company announced that Mark and Haechan, who are also in NCT DREAM, have postponed their fan calls for DREAMLANDSCAPE Album. Jaehyun’s fan calls for his solo album J were also postponed.