Taeil

Taeil, born Moon Tae-il on June 14, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea, is a former main vocalist of the K-pop group NCT and its sub-units NCT U and NCT 127. He debuted under SM Entertainment in 2016 after being introduced through the SM Rookies trainee program. Known for his powerful and stable vocals, Taeil contributed significantly to NCT's early success, participating in numerous albums, tours, and variety shows. However, his career took a dramatic turn in 2024 when he was involved in a criminal case that led to his departure from NCT and a prison sentence for sexual assault.

Taeil's journey from a trainee to a prominent idol vocalist was marked by his dedication to music. He developed his skills through years of training and his breakthrough came with NCT's debut in 2016, where he quickly became recognized for his vocal abilities. Despite his professional achievements, his legacy is now overshadowed by his conviction in 2025 for the rape of an intoxicated woman, resulting in a 3.5-year prison sentence and mandatory sexual violence treatment. He has no solo albums or individual major awards; his work remained within the NCT framework. As of 2026, he is incarcerated with no active projects.[edit]

Moon Tae-il was born on June 14, 1994, in Jangan-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. He has one younger sister, three years his junior. Taeil showed an early interest in music, beginning guitar lessons at age seven. He attended Seoul Science High School and was accepted into the highly competitive Applied Music program at Hanyang University in 2013—the most competitive early-admissions track that year, surpassing law and medicine programs at other top schools. However, he declined enrollment after being accepted as a trainee by SM Entertainment that same year. His hobbies included listening to music, watching movies, and playing guitar. He cited Stevie Wonder's "Lately" as the song that inspired him to pursue a professional career and listed SHINee and Kim Bum-soo among his favorite artists. In 2015, he was formally introduced as part of SM Rookies, appearing in company events and content that built early recognition. This pre-debut exposure served as his pivotal step toward a professional debut.[edit]

Taeil's breakthrough came in 2016 when he debuted as a member of NCT U on the singles "The 7th Sense" and "Without You" in April, and as main vocalist of NCT 127 with the mini-album NCT #127 in July, showcasing his stable high notes and emotional delivery that helped define the unit's live-performance reputation. He appeared as a cast member on the reality series NCT Life in 2016, increasing his visibility. From 2017 to 2023, he participated in all major NCT 127 releases, including chart-topping Korean and Japanese albums, world tours, and SM Town concerts. His vocal parts were frequently highlighted in ballads and live stages. On July 6, 2021, he launched his personal Instagram account (@mo.on_air) and broke the Guinness World Record for "Fastest time to reach 1 million followers on Instagram." He continued group activities until June 2024, when he became linked to a criminal investigation. His career was permanently derailed by his involvement in a sexual assault case in 2024, leading to his departure from NCT on August 28, 2024, and a prison sentence in 2025.[edit]

Taeil was widely regarded as NCT's stable main vocalist, known for his powerful high notes and emotional delivery in ballads. His public persona was warm and relaxed, with a low-key content style focused on vocal performances and calm interactions. Media often praised his 'baby skin' and gentle demeanor. The official fandom name for NCT is NCTzen; no separate solo fandom existed. His social media voice was light-hearted and minimal, as seen on his Instagram account @mo.on_air. After the 2024 scandal, his public image shifted entirely to the criminal case, overshadowing his musical contributions.[edit]

Taeil currently holds no placement within the iFANN Global Top 1,000 rankings or any scope-specific lists as of August 2026. The iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated his profile but determined that he does not currently occupy a published position due to the cessation of his public career and subsequent legal incarceration. While his historical standing was defined by his role as a main vocalist for NCT, his current digital footprint reflects a complete withdrawal from active entertainment metrics. There is no documented official fandom name specific to Taeil; while he was a member of the group known as NCTzen, no distinct sub-fandom designation exists in the records. Following his departure from SM Entertainment in 2024 and the finalization of his prison sentence in late 2025, organized fan campaigns, birthday projects, or streaming initiatives specifically directed at him have ceased entirely. The narrative surrounding his audience has shifted from support to disengagement, with no evidence of continued charitable drives or ritualistic engagement. His presence in the cultural conversation is now strictly limited to the documentation of his legal downfall rather than artistic legacy or fan-driven mythology.[edit]

Born Moon Tae-il on June 14, 1994, Taeil began playing guitar at age seven, a skill he maintained throughout his career. His favorite number is 1, his favorite color is black, and he prefers spring. He describes his ideal type as someone cute who wears a short bob hairstyle. The nickname Dal Taeil plays on the Korean word for moon. His MBTI is ISFP and his blood type is O. Favorite foods include pork belly, ice cream, pizza, chicken, and meat. He shared a dorm room with Yuta in later NCT 127 dorms. The first thing he notices about people is their eyes. His personal motto is Be relaxed or free. His height is approximately 171 cm. He was part of SM Rookies, the pre-debut team that introduced him to the public before NCT's debut. As of 2026, he is serving a 3.5-year prison sentence for sexual assault. A widely retold story among former fans concerns his rapid rise to fame after breaking the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to reach one million Instagram followers upon launching @mo.on_air in July 2021. Another persistent anecdote involves his selection for Hanyang University's Applied Music program in 2013, where he chose trainee life over enrollment despite being accepted into the most competitive early-admissions track that year.[edit]

Taeil grew up in Seoul with his parents and a younger sister, who is three years younger than him. Details about his family members' professions or backgrounds are not publicly available. He has not spoken extensively about his family in media. His education ended at Seoul Science High School; he did not attend university due to his trainee schedule. He has no publicly known children.[edit]

Taeil is best known as a former member of NCT, a large K-pop group formed by SM Entertainment. He worked closely with fellow NCT members across sub-units NCT U and NCT 127. His career was managed by SM Entertainment from his trainee days until his departure in 2024. He is also associated with his co-defendants in his criminal case, identified as Lee and Hong. [edit]

There are no confirmed public relationships in Taeil's dating history. As a K-pop idol under SM Entertainment, his personal life was kept strictly private, and no credible reports link him to any romantic partner. Multiple sources confirm the absence of public pairings. As of 2026, he is serving a prison sentence and is not known to be in a relationship.[edit]

Heading into 2026, iFANN currently estimates Taeil's net worth at $5 Million. This figure represents accumulated wealth primarily during his active years as a member of NCT from 2016 to 2024. His income originated from group activities including album sales, streaming revenue, concert tours, merchandise, and appearance fees, with earnings distributed through SM Entertainment. Specific figures for individual projects remain undisclosed. He held no solo endorsement deals, production companies, real-estate holdings, or business ventures. Since his departure from NCT in August 2024 and subsequent imprisonment, his earning potential has effectively ceased, and no new income sources have been reported.[edit]