Korean agency SM Entertainment kicked out K-pop idol Moon Taeil, former member of boy bands NCT and NCT 127 who is under investigation for special quasi-rape, from the company.
In a statement issued on Oct. 16, SM Entertainment said it also terminated Taeil’s contract because of loss of trust.
“We would like to inform you that our exclusive contract with Taeil has been terminated as of October 15, 2024,” it said.
Former NCT member Taeil (Instagram)
It added, “Taeil is currently under investigation by the prosecution for a criminal case, which is grounds for termination under the exclusive contract, and we can no longer continue to trust him as an artist, so we have decided to terminate the exclusive contract with him in agreement.”
“We would like to once again apologize for causing concern due to Taeil, who was our artist,” it said.
The female victim filed a complaint for sex crime against Taeil with the police on June 13, a day before his birthday on June 14.
He was summoned by the police on Aug. 28. On the same day, SM Entertainment announced his removal from NCT due to the allegations but not from the company.
Under Korea’s law Criminal Act, quasi-rape and quasi-indecent act by compulsion are committed when “a person who has sexual intercourse with another or commits an indecent act on another by taking advantage of the other's condition of unconsciousness or inability to resist shall be punished.”
A Korean media outlet reported that if Taeil is found guilty, he will be sentenced to at least seven years in prison or life imprisonment based on Article 4 of the law Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
Article 4 refers to aggravated rape and states that a “person who commits a crime prescribed in Article 297 [rape] of the Criminal Act, carrying any weapon or other dangerous object or jointly with any other persons, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for an indefinite term or for at least seven years.”
After the police completed its investigation of Taeil, they handed the complaint to the prosecution, which is currently conducting its own probe.