SM Entertainment has announced the termination of its exclusive contract with Taeil, a former member of the K-pop group NCT, due to allegations of sexual misconduct. In an official statement released yesterday, the company confirmed, “We inform you that the exclusive contract between our company and Taeil has been terminated as of October 15, 2024.”
Taeil is currently under investigation for criminal allegations. In light of this, SM stated, “This situation provides valid grounds for the termination of the exclusive contract. Furthermore, we can no longer maintain trust in him as an artist, which has led us to agree to terminate the contract mutually.”
The agency also said, “We sincerely apologize for the concerns caused by Taeil, our artist.” In August, SM revealed that Taeil was under investigation for a criminal case related to sexual misconduct, coinciding with his departure from NCT.
Initially, the agency stated that Taeil was “under investigation for a sexual misconduct case” but did not disclose further details about the allegations. This led to criticism that SM may have overlooked the complaint. In response, the agency clarified, “We first became aware of the allegations against Taeil in mid-August.”
Recently, it was reported that Taeil is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault. He is alleged to have assaulted a drunken woman in June alongside two acquaintances, none of whom are public figures. Following the news, NCT members quickly unfollowed him on social media, clearly distancing him.
