SM Entertainment terminates former NCT member Taeil's contract after criticism; K-pop fans celebrate
Trigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sexual assault.
Updated : October 16, 2024 05:27 PM ISTTrigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sexual assault.
Former NCT member Taeil
Trigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sexual assault.
After days of backlash, SM Entertainment released an official statement on October 16, 2024, to officially state that the former NCT member Taeil's contract with the company had been terminated.
ALSO READ | NCT's Taeil faces quasi-r*pe charges of drunk woman; fans ask why SM Entertainment continues to employ him
The music agency in a statement said, "This is SM Entertainment. We wish to inform you that as of October 15, 2024, Taeil's exclusive contract with us has been terminated. Taeil is currently under investigation by the prosecution for criminal charges, which falls under justifiable reason for the termination of the exclusive contract. Of course, trust in him as an artist cannot be continued, and it was decided upon discussion with Taeil himself that the contract would be terminated. We wish to apologize once more for having worried everyone with our former artist Taeil’s matters".
SM엔터테인먼트입니다. pic.twitter.com/vofR2Zo8ZJ
— SMTOWN (@SMTOWNGLOBAL) October 16, 2024
About Taeil's case:
Moon Taeil is being investigated by authorities for aggravated quasi-rape, according to a report released on Monday, October 7, 2024. He was questioned at Seoul's Bangbae Police Station before being transported to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on August 12. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison.
The investigation revolved around charges that Taeil, along with two acquaintances, sexually attacked an inebriated woman in June. On August 28, two months after the accusations were made, he was called in for interrogation. It is worth noting that none of his accomplices are prominent individuals.
K-pop fans celebrate:
Soon after SM Entertainment made the announcement, K-pop fans were ecstatic as they cheered that Taeil would no longer earn money from the agency and would be away from the rest of NCT for good. However, they are still angry at how SM Entertainment handled the case of Seunghan from the band RIIZE and are awaiting his return to the group.
kicking out taeil (finally) but no news about seunghan? ANSWER US #BringbackSeunghan#JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN_ #AlwaysWithSeunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SEUNGHAN #SMStandsForBullying #SeunghanWasBullied #SaveRIIZEfromSM #SM_쓰레기 https://t.co/vBYmeTqn0s
— liza 🎧 | juyeons lover; seunghan we love you (@sunnisunwoo) October 16, 2024
thank fucking god sm terminated taeil contract! i’m now praying he gets sentenced to prison and the victim get justice!
— rosie 🍉 (@planetbinnie) October 16, 2024
don’t let the taeil announcement fool u. they should’ve terminated the contract as soon as they found out. don’t let it distract u from seunghan & the boycott.
— alizé 𝜗𝜚˚°.☾ (@onepactsheart) October 16, 2024
SMStandsForBullying#SeunghanWasBullied#SaveRIIZEfromSM #JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #SEUNGHAN #홍승한
sm is the one that is supposed to be questioned here. what took them so long? sm took 2 days for seunghan’s scenario. why did it took months for taeil?
— 555 (@wtfsimjaeyun) October 16, 2024
About Taeil:
He made his debut in April 2016 as part of 'NCT U' and soon became popular, particularly in Japan and China. He eventually joined another subgroup called 'NCT 127'. Despite the ongoing investigation, Taeil attended public events, including the NCT 127 8th anniversary fan meetup in Seoul on August 3rd and 4th, as well as the group's most recent full-length album.