Taeil (real name Moon Tae-il) from the SM Entertainment idol group NCT has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and taken into custody by the court for allegedly sexually assaulting a drunken woman with an acquaintance.
The 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presided over by Director General Lee Hyun-kyung) sentenced three defendants, including Taeil, to 3 years and 6 months in prison for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (special rape) on the 10th, stating that there was a concern of flight, and ordered them into custody. Additionally, they were each ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and to be restricted from employment at welfare facilities for children, adolescents, and individuals with disabilities for 5 years.
The court said, "The defendants have all admitted to the crime in this case, and the special rape charge has been found guilty based on the evidence," adding, "The nature of the crime is very poor as they took advantage of the victim being unable to resist due to intoxication to sequentially commit sexual intercourse."
The court added, "It appears that the victim, a foreigner, suffered significant mental distress after being assaulted while traveling in an unfamiliar place." However, it noted the favorable circumstances of the defendants being first-time offenders and admitting to the crime, as well as the victim's desire not to pursue punishment as they reached an agreement.
Taeil, who appeared in court dressed in black, responded softly with "No" when the court asked if he had anything to say about his detention after the sentencing.
Earlier, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office charged Taeil and two accomplices with special rape under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act in February without detention. The special rape charge applies when two or more individuals sexually assault a person who is unable to resist.
According to the prosecution, on June 13 of last year, Taeil went to a bar in Itaewon with two acquaintances and, after drinking, took a foreign female traveler (the victim) he had just met to an acquaintance's home. It was investigated that they sexually assaulted the victim, who had lost consciousness and was lying down due to severe intoxication.
The defendants, including Taeil, acknowledged all charges during the first trial held on June 18. However, they requested the court to consider their surrender to the crime and the agreement with the victim, which resulted in a letter of non-punishment. However, the prosecution argued that there were doubts about whether it was a genuine surrender and sought 7 years of imprisonment for Taeil and the two defendants.
At the final statement, Taeil said, "I deeply regret and apologize for the great harm caused to the victim, and I feel very sorry to everyone who is disappointed in me. If you grant me leniency, I consider it the last chance given in my life, and I will do my best to live in a way that contributes to society in any way possible."