Former NCT member Taeil reportedly found to have held a live stream a day after his s*xual assault charges

New developments have emerged as of October 8, 2024, in former NCT member Taeil's case, which revealed that he held a live video stream on social media just one day after being reported in connection with a r*pe case in June 2024. News Nate, a popular Korean press outlet, reported this news.

He was charged with assaulting foreign women on June 13, 2024, and went live the next day, June 14, for his birthday. During the stream, he spoke casually on various topics and even mentioned that he had initially planned to go live the previous day, the same day he was charged. His indifferent attitude during the broadcast has sparked outrage among K-pop fans and the general public.

Trigger Warning: The following article contains mention of r*pe and se*ual assault. Readers' discretion is advised.

Many have criticized his behavior as insensitive and unapologetic, expressing discomfort over how he acted so casually despite the serious accusations against him. This led to a further backlash, ultimately resulting in SM Entertainment officially expelling him from the group on August 28, 2024.

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Taeil's past livestream resurfaces on the internet

On October 8, 2024, it was revealed that Taeil, a former member of NCT, is under police investigation for allegations of "aggravated quasi-r*pe." According to News Nate, he was transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ office on June 12, 2024, without detention. He is accused of s*xually assaulting an intoxicated woman along with two acquaintances.

The legal term "aggravated quasi-r*pe" applies when two or more individuals, or those carrying a weapon, commit s*xual assault against a victim who is mentally or physically incapacitated and unable to resist. If convicted, under South Korea's law, this crime carries a sentence of at least seven years or life imprisonment.

The police reportedly booked Taeil on June 13 after receiving a complaint, as per allkpop. The very next day (June 14), he conducted a live broadcast on social media, which later resurfaced and shocked many online users.

In the video, he appeared casual and makeup-free, casually interacting with fans. He made cryptic comments during the live broadcast, referencing that he considered streaming at midnight the day before (the day he was reported) but decided not to because he was sleepy. He also talked about his new hairstyle, even humming along to a song during the broadcast.

Taeil pressed with "aggravated quasi-rape charges (Image via Twitter/@127CENTRAL)

On August 29, SM Entertainment released a statement confirming that they had been made aware of Taeil's involvement in a criminal case related to s*xual misconduct. They expressed the seriousness of the matter and announced that, after discussions with him, they had decided he would no longer participate in group activities, effectively removing him from NCT.

Since the scandal, SM Entertainment and NCT 127 members have unfollowed him on social media platforms. His personal Instagram account has been set to private, and all content from his YouTube channel has been taken down.

Fans have distanced themselves from the idol as well. Taeil's follower count, which was around 6 million, dropped to 4.77 million following the incident.