Taeil (birth name Moon Taeil, 31), a former member of NCT, will stand trial in appeals court after being sentenced to three years and six months in prison for aggravated sexual assault involving an intoxicated woman.
The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 11-3 will hold the first appellate hearing on September 17 KST for Taeil and two co-defendants who were convicted under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
Back on July 10, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 26 (presided over by Judge Lee Hyun Kyung) sentenced Taeil and two others—identified as Lee and Hong—to three years and six months in prison, with immediate detention. The court also ordered all three to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.
In its sentencing, the court cited mitigating factors such as the defendants’ lack of prior convictions, their admission of guilt, and the fact that they reached a settlement with the victim, who no longer wished for punishment. The court applied a reduced sentence accordingly.
During his final statement, Taeil said:
“I deeply regret causing harm to the victim and feel deeply sorry. I also apologize to everyone who felt disappointed in me. If given leniency, I will treat it as the last opportunity of my life and work to become a contributing member of society.”
Taeil submitted his notice of appeal just six days after the first trial’s verdict. The two co-defendants and the prosecution have also appealed, sending the case to a higher court for further judgment.
The three were indicted without detention in March for an incident that occurred in June of last year, in which they allegedly sexually assaulted an intoxicated foreign woman. The crime falls under aggravated quasi-rape, which is defined under Korean law as sexual assault committed jointly by two or more individuals—or with the use of a weapon—against a victim who is unconscious or otherwise unable to resist.
According to the investigation, the defendants met the victim, a foreign tourist, at a club in Itaewon, Yongsan District, around 2:33 a.m., drank together, and later took her—who was heavily intoxicated—by taxi to one of the co-defendant’s residences, where the assault occurred. It was also revealed that after the crime, they discussed intentionally dropping her off at a different location to conceal the crime scene.
Taeil debuted with NCT in 2016, and was active as a member of both NCT U and NCT 127. SM Entertainment terminated its exclusive contract with Taeil in October of last year, following the sexual assault allegations.
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