Taeil reported for sexual assault in June, questioned on Wednesday

Taeil, former member of boy band NCT, was reported to the police for sexual assault on June 13 and questioned on Wednesday, according to the police and SM Entertainment.

Taeil of boy band NCT [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Taeil, former member of boy band NCT, was reported to the police for sexual assault on June 13 and questioned on Wednesday, according to the police and SM Entertainment.

The 30-year-old former NCT member, whose real name is Moon Tae-il, is being investigated for sexual assault at the Seoul Bangbae Police Station in southern Seoul.

The assault was "not against a minor or male," the police said but did not share any other details on the case.

SM Entertainment came under fire on Thursday after fans suspected that the agency had known about Taeil's crime but turned a blind eye. In fact, Taeil took part in NCT 127's meet and greet with fans held on Aug. 3 and 4 as a celebration of the NCT subgroup's eighth anniversary.

The agency denied the accusation.

Boy band NCT 127 [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

“We were made aware of the police report mid-August,” a spokesperson from SM Entertainment said. The company also refrained from detailing further on the case.

Taeil debuted in 2016 as a member of NCT's subgroup NCT U. He took time off from group activities last year after suffering an injury to his right thigh from a traffic accident on Aug. 15, 2023.

He was removed from NCT on Wednesday and his former bandmates' schedules were canceled this week after Taeil's news made headlines.

A signing event for NCT's Jaehyun, scheduled for Thursday, was canceled, as well as the video phone call event for NCT members Mark and Haechan.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]