SM Entertainment has officially terminated its contract with Taeil, a former member of the popular K-pop group NCT, following serious allegations of sexual assault.
In a statement released on October 16, 2024, the company confirmed that the decision was made in 'mutual agreement' with Taeil, citing his ongoing legal troubles and the loss of trust. The contract termination was effective as of October 15, 2024.
The statement read, "Taeil is currently under investigation by the prosecution for a criminal case, which is grounds for contract termination. Moreover, the situation has made it impossible to maintain trust with him as an artist. As such, the decision to terminate the contract was made in mutual agreement with him. We sincerely apologize once again for the concerns caused by Taeil, who was one of our artists."
Taeil's legal trouble began when reports emerged that he was under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman in June, along with two acquaintances. The case, which involves charges of aggravated quasi-rape, was transferred to the prosecution last month.
Under South Korean law, such charges carry severe penalties, including a minimum sentence of seven years if proven guilty.
Taeil, who debuted in 2016, was a member of NCT's various units, including NCT 127 and NCT U. After sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident in August 2023, he took a hiatus from his activities. However, he made a brief return to the spotlight by participating in NCT's 8th-anniversary fan meeting in August 2024. Later the same month, SM Entertainment announced Taeil's removal from the group following the allegations of sexual assault.
