Former NCT member Taeil is set to appear in court again this September in connection with a group sexual assault case that shocked the public. Taeil, along with two acquaintances, is facing charges of aggravated quasi-rape under South Korea’s Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
According to the Seoul High Court, the first hearing of the appeals trial is scheduled for September 17 KST, marking nearly two months since the appeal was filed.
Background of the Case
Taeil was first reported to police by a female foreign national in June 2024 for alleged sexual assault. He was later questioned by police in August and indicted without detention in March 2025. The prosecution accused Taeil and his two friends of taking the heavily intoxicated victim from a bar in Itaewon to a private residence in Banpo-dong and raping her while she was unconscious.
The court initially declined arrest warrants, citing the suspects’ admission of the crime and low risk of flight. However, at the first trial in July, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced all three men to 3 years and 6 months in prison, mandated 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs, and issued a 5-year employment ban for jobs involving children and adolescents.
The prosecution had requested a 7-year sentence for Taeil, in addition to disclosure of personal information and restrictions on employment. Following the ruling, both the prosecution and the defendants appealed, leading to the upcoming second trial.
Consequences and Public Response
Following the scandal, SM Entertainment terminated its exclusive contract with Taeil on October 15, 2024, stating:
“Taeil is currently under criminal investigation, which constitutes grounds for contract termination. Trust has been irrevocably broken.”
Taeil also issued a statement during his final defense:
“I deeply regret the harm caused to the victim and sincerely apologize to everyone I’ve disappointed.”
His legal team added that Taeil had undergone sexual violence prevention programs and psychological counseling, and had delivered an apology through the victim’s court-appointed attorney. The defense claimed that the victim had expressed she did not wish for punishment, though prosecutors disputed the sincerity and timing of Taeil’s “self-surrender” and remorse.
Prosecutorial Claims
The prosecution challenged the defense’s narrative, arguing:
“The suspects planned their actions and tried to avoid detection, instructing each other to manipulate the taxi’s GPS data. This was not an impulsive crime.”
They emphasized the severity and premeditated nature of the assault, citing:
“This was a gang rape committed against a foreign tourist. The defendants deliberately took her to a different location after meeting her at a club. This is a grave offense with extremely poor moral character.”
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