Former NCT member and South Korean singer, Taeil, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for his involvement in the sexual assault of a Chinese tourist in Seoul.
The 31-year-old artist, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, was tried alongside two other defendants, identified in local media as Lee and Hong.
In court proceedings held in June, all three admitted to taking turns sexually assaulting the woman after encountering her in the Itaewon district.
Court testimony revealed that the victim had become “heavily intoxicated” while drinking with the group at a bar.
The men then escorted her via taxi to Lee’s residence, where the assault occurred.
The presiding judge described the incident as “aggravated” due to the involvement of multiple perpetrators and classified it as a “quasi rape” because the victim was unconscious during the attack.
While prosecutors initially sought a seven-year sentence, the court handed down a reduced term, citing the fact that the offenders had no prior criminal records.
A district judge in Seoul condemned the crime as “extremely grave” but acknowledged their status as first-time offenders in determining the final sentence.
In addition to the prison terms, Taeil, Lee, and Hong have been ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence rehabilitation program.
Taeil officially departed from the popular K-pop group NCT in August of the previous year, soon after the first allegations surfaced. Although details of the case were not made public at the time, his exit came ahead of formal charges being filed.
NCT, formed by SM Entertainment in January 2016, is known for its innovative and genre-blending approach to K-pop. The group has achieved international acclaim, with multiple projects landing on global music charts, including Billboard.
