NCT's Taeil Receives 7-Year Sentence for Sexual Assault

Taeil, a member of NCT who was expelled from the group due to allegations of sexual assault, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. On June 18, the Seoul Central District Court held its first hearing regarding the charges of aggravated rape under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act against Taeil and his accomplices, identified as Mr. Lee and Mr. Hong.

The incident occurred on June 13 of last year, when Taeil and his accomplices met the victim at a bar in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, around 2:33 AM. After consuming alcohol, they allegedly transported the intoxicated victim to their residence in Banbae-dong, where they are accused of gang-raping her.

The prosecution has requested a seven-year prison sentence for Taeil and his co-defendants. Evidence presented by the prosecution includes text messages exchanged among the defendants during the crime, suggesting they planned to avoid detection by instructing each other to take the victim to a different location.

The prosecution stated, "This case involves the gang rape of a foreign female tourist, making it extremely serious and indicative of poor character. The defendants even discussed deliberately sending the victim away in a taxi to obscure the crime scene, indicating an intent to prevent her from remembering the location or to evade police tracking."

They also expressed skepticism about the defendants' claims of remorse, stating, "Given the defendants' arguments, it is highly questionable whether they genuinely regret their actions."

Regarding the submission of a confession letter by the defendants, the prosecution noted, "This document was submitted only two months after the incident, following police identification and a search warrant. It raises doubts about whether this can be considered a legitimate confession under the law."

Taeil's defense argued that he is deeply remorseful for the pain caused to the victim and has expressed his apologies through a public defender during the investigation. They claimed the victim accepted his apology and expressed a desire not to pursue charges. Taeil has reportedly committed to participating in sexual crime prevention programs and psychological counseling to ensure he does not repeat his mistakes.

Additionally, the defense highlighted the impact of the incident on Taeil's family, stating that his mother lost her job due to the scandal, and Taeil is currently only able to assist at a friend's restaurant, struggling to support his family financially.

Taeil, who stated he is currently unemployed, expressed his apologies to everyone he has disappointed and requested leniency, viewing this as his last chance to contribute positively to society.

In March, Taeil, along with Mr. Lee and Mr. Hong, was indicted without detention for the alleged sexual assault of a drunken foreign woman. Following these events, SM Entertainment terminated Taeil's contract and he was removed from NCT. Other NCT members also unfollowed him on social media.

The sentencing for Taeil is scheduled for July 10 at 2 PM.