SM Entertainment Officially Terminates Contract of Former NCT Member Taeil Due to Ongoing Criminal Investigation

On October 15, 2024, SM Entertainment announced the termination of its exclusive agreement with former NCT member Taeil. This action comes in light of his involvement in a criminal inquiry, which has escalated to the attention of the Seoul Central Prosecutors Office.

The official announcement stated:

“Greetings from SM Entertainment. We regret to inform you that as of October 15, 2024, our exclusive contract with Taeil has been terminated. He is currently under prosecution investigation for a criminal case. This situation undermines the trust we must hold in him as an artist, which constitutes grounds for contract termination.”

The statement continued:

“As a result of this situation, both parties have mutually consented to end the contract. We sincerely apologize once more for any distress caused by Taeil, who was previously part of our roster of artists.”

As the investigation remains active and authorities are yet to call the artist for further inquiries, his future remains ambiguous. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of over seven years according to Korean law regarding aggravated sexual offenses.

This controversy initially came to light in late August 2024 when media reports connected him to a sexual crime investigation, sending a shockwave through the K-pop community, especially given his significant status within NCT.

More on the ongoing situation surrounding former NCT member Taeil

Following the emergence of this troubling information, SM Entertainment took swift action by removing Taeil from the group, a clear indication of the gravity of the matter. In the aftermath of his departure, fellow NCT members reportedly distanced themselves from him, with many choosing to unfollow him on social media platforms.

While the agency attributed the distancing to “unforeseen scheduling conflicts,”speculation arose among fans and media alike that these issues were interconnected with the ongoing scandal. As the case unfolds, it has created considerable unease among fans, many of whom have begun to withdraw their support for him.

His social media account has been switched to private, reflecting a significant drop in followers, losing approximately 500,000 since the allegations emerged.

Fans have also begun to examine the artist’s past actions more closely, particularly regarding his alleged club outings during a period when he was purportedly on hiatus due to an injury earlier in 2024.

A photo that resurfaced, claimed to have been taken at a nightclub during his recovery, has reignited scrutiny about his behavior, further complicating his public persona. The removal of Taeil from NCT and the ongoing legal challenges have sparked widespread conversations about accountability, public trust, and the implications for NCT’s future.

As fans continue to monitor the situation, the fallout from this scandal reverberates throughout the K-pop industry, leaving an indelible mark on both the artist’s career trajectory and the reputation of the group.

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