Many Korean netizens reacted with rekindled anger, frustration, as well as questions as South Korea's supreme court finalized a sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison for Moon Taeil (30), a former member of NCT, and his two accomplices, 'A' and 'B'.
As of December 26 KST, Moon Taeil and his two accomplices have formally been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, as well as 40-hours of sexual violence education and programming, for sexually assaulting a foreign individual while the victim was incapable of resistance. The crime occurred in June of 2024, when the 3 defendants met the victim at a club in Itaewon. When the victim became drunk, the defendants transported her to a residence in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu and sexually assaulted her. The police investigation found DNA of all 3 defendants in the victim's body.
During the initial trial, the Seoul Central District Court found Moon Taeil and his party guilty of group sexual assault. Records from the trial and ruling indicate that Taeil and the 2 other defendants admitted to all charges, and that they had agreed on a settlement with the victim. Although Taeil and his party attempted to defend their case by claiming that they turned themselves in for investigation voluntarily, the court dismissed the claims, pointing out that the defendants submitted letters pleading guilty only after the police investigation began.
The 3 defendants also denied suspicions that the crime was pre-planned, despite evidence submitted by the prosecution of text messages exchanged by 'A' and 'B' on the day of the crime. The text messages, obtained by 'Dispatch' earlier this year, read:
A: Don't fall asleep lol.
B: Come to XXX-XX Bangbae-dong.
A: You better open up got it? 7 minutes left.
[After the crime]
B: Make sure you grab a taxi further away, so it shows a different location.
In light of the former NCT member's finalized sentence and the renewed attention toward his case, how did Korean netizens react?
"Because of this b******, I seriously can't watch any old NCT content anymore. I wish they could erase his voice from all of their songs TTTT."
"I was literally forced to stop stanning a group I stanned for 9-years because of this b******. I can't listen to the songs I loved anymore, I can't watch all the old content that I enjoyed. The other members did nothing wrong but just looking at their faces reminds me of him."
"Please SM get rid of this guy's voice from all the past albums I can't stand it."
"Can you please just re-record the title tracks at least.."
"I can't listen to NCT songs anymore because of him."
"He didn't just ruin NCT. He left a indelible mark on the K-Pop industry itself."
"This case absolutely gives me chills.. You can't be fooled by their gentle smiles in front of the camera."
"I'm sorry but from now on I will forever think NCT = gang rape."
"There is no f***ing way that this was the first time for any of them. No f***ing way."
"It looks to me like they went after foreigners. It makes me so mad when I think about how there might have been other victims who couldn't speak up."
"I threw out every NCT thing I owned because seeing his face made me want to throw up."
"He is disgusting but so is this country's law. 3 and a half years? F*** that."
"How the hell did he only get 3.5 years the law is so messed up."
"Put an ankle monitor on him for life! He's a sex offender!"
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