By Lina Hope 
The NCT Flea Market, a highly anticipated charity event organized to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the globally renowned K-pop group NCT, has become the center of a major public relations crisis. Launched on September 6, 2026, in collaboration with Seoul Fashion Week, the event was intended to be a philanthropic celebration of the group’s decade-long career. However, the discovery of items allegedly belonging to former member Moon Tae-il, a convicted sex offender currently serving a prison sentence, has ignited a firestorm of criticism against the group’s management agency, SM Entertainment.
Overview of the NCT Flea Market and 10th Anniversary Celebrations
The NCT Flea Market was designed as a flagship event for NCT’s 10th anniversary, bridging the gap between idol culture and high fashion. Held at a prominent venue in Seoul, the event featured a curated selection of "cherished items" donated by current members of NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WayV, and NCT WISH. The inventory included personal accessories, such as a Ferragamo watch donated by Jeno and plush keychains used by Sakuya, as well as a vast array of stage outfits worn by the members throughout their various promotional cycles.
The event’s primary objective was charitable, with SM Entertainment announcing that all proceeds would be directed toward organizations supporting women, youth initiatives, and cultural development. This philanthropic angle was meant to reinforce the group’s positive social impact. However, the inclusion of items associated with a man convicted of crimes against women has led many to question the agency’s internal vetting processes and sensitivity toward victims.
The Discovery of Controversial Items
The backlash began shortly after the doors opened, as fans and attendees—many of whom are well-versed in the group’s visual history—began identifying specific pieces of clothing. Netizens quickly pointed to a distinctive jacket from the luxury streetwear brand OAMC. Through photographic evidence and music video archives, fans confirmed that this specific jacket was worn by Taeil during the filming of NCT 127’s "Chain" music video, a release from the group’s earlier years.
Further investigation by attendees revealed even more direct evidence. One social media user posted a photograph of a garment found in the sale bins that featured the name "Taeil" written clearly in black marker on an internal tag or lining. In the K-pop industry, it is standard practice for stylists to label stage outfits and rehearsal gear with members’ names to ensure organization during hectic schedules. The presence of this label confirmed that the item was not merely a generic piece of group merchandise but a garment specifically assigned to and worn by the former idol.
Background on Taeil’s Legal Case and Departure from NCT
The gravity of the backlash is rooted in the nature of Taeil’s departure from the group and his subsequent criminal conviction. In August 2024, SM Entertainment shocked the global music industry by announcing Taeil’s immediate removal from NCT following allegations of a "serious sexual crime." Unlike many previous instances where idols were placed on hiatus pending investigation, the agency took the rare step of terminating his activities immediately, citing the severity of the situation.
Subsequent legal proceedings revealed that Taeil was involved in a case of aggravated semi-forced indecency, often referred to in legal contexts as gang rape, involving an intoxicated victim and multiple accomplices. By the time of the 2026 Flea Market, Taeil had been convicted and was serving a three-year prison sentence. His removal from the group was followed by a systematic effort to erase his presence from official group content, including blurring his face in older variety shows and removing his image from promotional materials. The appearance of his clothing at a celebratory 10th-anniversary event was, therefore, seen by fans as a massive failure in the agency’s promised "purging" of the offender.
Public Reaction and Ethical Implications
The reaction from the NCT fandom, known as NCTzens, and the general public has been one of overwhelming condemnation. The criticism is focused on two primary fronts: the perceived negligence of SM Entertainment’s logistical staff and the profound ethical irony of the event’s charitable goals.
Social media platforms were flooded with posts from fans expressing disbelief that items belonging to a convicted sex offender could be processed, priced, and displayed for sale at an event celebrating the group’s legacy. One viral post questioned, "How could they be so careless as to sell a criminal’s clothes at a market where the proceeds go to women’s charities? It is an insult to the victims and to the fans who came to support a good cause."
The ethical contradiction has been the most significant point of contention. Industry analysts note that by directing proceeds to "organizations supporting women," SM Entertainment positioned the event as a gesture of social responsibility. However, the inclusion of Taeil’s items—effectively profiting from his former association with the group to fund women’s initiatives—has been labeled as "tone-deaf" and "grossly negligent" by critics.
Logistical Failures and Corporate Accountability
The incident has raised serious questions regarding the internal management of SM Entertainment’s vast costume archives. Major K-pop agencies maintain thousands of stage outfits in climate-controlled warehouses. These items are typically categorized by era, member, and size. For a 10th-anniversary flea market, staff would have had to pull items from these archives.
The fact that Taeil’s labeled clothing made it through multiple stages of handling—inventory selection, transportation, pricing, and display—suggests a breakdown in the agency’s oversight. Professional observers suggest that the staff responsible for the flea market may have prioritized the quantity of items for the 10th-anniversary sale over a rigorous screening process. Given the agency’s previous stance on distancing itself from Taeil, the oversight is being viewed not just as a logistical error, but as a sign of institutional apathy toward the sensitivity of the situation.
Broader Impact on NCT’s 10th Anniversary
NCT’s 10th anniversary was intended to be a milestone of resilience and growth for one of SM Entertainment’s most complex and successful projects. Since their debut in 2016, the group has expanded into multiple sub-units and achieved significant international chart success. The anniversary celebrations were meant to focus on the current members’ hard work and the fans’ loyalty.
Instead, the flea market controversy has shifted the narrative back to one of the darkest chapters in the group’s history. For many fans, the presence of Taeil’s items served as an unwanted reminder of the 2024 scandal, overshadowing the celebratory atmosphere. It has also created a rift between the fans and the agency, with many calling for a formal apology and a transparent explanation of how the inventory was selected.
Industry Implications for Merchandise Management
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for the K-pop industry regarding the management of "tainted" intellectual property and physical assets. As the industry matures and more legacy groups reach decade-long milestones, the handling of archives becomes increasingly important.
Legal and PR experts suggest that agencies must implement stricter protocols for "de-accessioning" items associated with former members, particularly those removed under controversial or criminal circumstances. The standard practice of archiving every stage outfit must be balanced with the social and legal realities of the individuals who wore them. Failure to do so can result in significant brand damage, as seen in the current backlash against SM Entertainment.
Conclusion and Current Status
As of the evening of September 6, 2026, SM Entertainment has not issued a comprehensive official statement regarding the specific items identified by fans, though reports suggest that the controversial items were removed from the sales floor once the backlash gained traction online. The NCT Flea Market continues to run as part of the scheduled 10th-anniversary events, but the shadow of the oversight remains.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between the commercial machinery of K-pop and the increasingly vocal demand for ethical accountability from global fanbases. For NCT, a group that has spent a decade building a reputation for innovation and talent, the 10th-anniversary milestone now serves as a reminder that institutional memory and administrative diligence are just as crucial to a group’s legacy as the music itself. The coming days will likely see further pressure on SM Entertainment to address the lapse and provide assurances that the proceeds from the event will be handled with the respect and sensitivity the designated charities deserve.
