Former NCT Member Taeil Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison in Appeal for Group Sexual Assault Charges

Taeil (real name Moon Tae-il), a former member of the K-pop group NCT, has had 7 years in prison requested in the appeal trial concerning charges of group sexual assault.

On the 17th, the Seoul High Court's 11th-3 Criminal Division held the first appeal hearing for Taeil and two others, who are accused of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (Special Gang Rape). The prosecution requested the same sentence as the first trial: 7 years in prison for each of the three defendants.

Appearing in court wearing a brown prison uniform, Taeil and his legal team stated that the reason for appealing the first-instance ruling was that the sentence was 'unjust.' In the initial trial, Taeil received a sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison and was immediately detained.

During his final statement, Taeil acknowledged all his wrongdoings and expressed deep remorse. He stated that he understands the victim's pain cannot be fully healed by any words or actions and sincerely apologizes for the irreparable suffering caused by his foolish actions, vowing to live the rest of his life seeking atonement.

He further shared that witnessing the destruction of the victim's life and family due to his wrongdoings made him realize the gravity of his mistakes. Taeil pledged never to commit such crimes again, to live honestly without forgetting the weight of the law, and apologized once more to the victim for the harm inflicted.

Previously, Taeil and two friends met a Chinese woman at an Itaewon bar in Seoul around 2:33 AM on June 13th of last year. The charges allege they took the intoxicated woman to their residence and committed group sexual assault while she was heavily intoxicated and unconscious.

As a consequence, Taeil was expelled from NCT and his exclusive contract with his agency, SM Entertainment, was terminated. SM Entertainment stated that upon confirming the serious nature of the allegations, they determined he could no longer continue group activities, leading to the decision for his departure from the team after discussion with Taeil.

In July, the first trial court sentenced Taeil and the two others to 3 years and 6 months for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (Special Gang Rape). They were also ordered to complete 40 hours of sex offender treatment, have their personal information disclosed, and face a 5-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities. Taeil was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing.

The court had criticized the case, stating, 'The crime of sequential intercourse, taking advantage of the victim's unconscious state due to intoxication, is of very bad nature.' It also noted that the victim, a foreign traveler, likely suffered significant mental distress from being victimized in an unfamiliar place. However, the court cited that all defendants were first-time offenders, admitted to their crimes, and had reached a settlement with the victim who did not wish to pursue punishment, as favorable circumstances considered in sentencing.

Meanwhile, the sentencing date for Taeil's appeal trial is scheduled for October 17th at 2:30 PM.

Taeil was known as NCT's main vocalist, recognized for his powerful singing abilities. Early in his career, he was beloved by fans for his positive image and actively participated in various entertainment programs. This incident has effectively halted his entertainment career.