Former NCT member Taeil has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after the Supreme Court of South Korea upheld his conviction for special quasi-rape. On December 26, 2025, the court dismissed his final appeal and confirmed the original sentence handed down by lower courts.
The case dates back to June 13, 2024. Taeil, whose real name is Moon Taeil, and two accomplices met a foreign woman at a bar in Seoul’s Itaewon area. Prosecutors stated that the woman was heavily intoxicated and unable to resist. The three men sexually assaulted her together.
Under Korean law, this is classified as “special quasi-rape,” which applies when multiple people commit sexual assault against an incapacitated victim.
In the first trial held in July this year, the court described the crime as extremely serious. It noted that the defendants took advantage of the victim’s condition and caused severe psychological harm.
Although prosecutors sought a seven-year sentence, the court reduced it to three years and six months, citing the defendants’ admission of guilt, first-offender status, and a settlement with the victim. All three were taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
Taeil and his accomplices were also ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program. In addition, they are banned from working at institutions related to children, adolescents, or people with disabilities for five years.
Both the first and second appeals were rejected later in 2025. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that there were no legal errors in the lower court decisions and finalized the sentence.
Following the incident, SM Entertainment removed Taeil from NCT and terminated his exclusive contract on October 15, 2024. The agency stated that it could no longer trust him due to the seriousness of the criminal case.
During court proceedings, Taeil admitted to all charges. He apologized to the victim and asked for leniency, calling it a “last chance in life.” Despite this, the courts ruled that the gravity of the crime outweighed any grounds for further reduction.
