Taeil, a well-known member of the K-pop group NCT, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for sexual assault, according to a ruling by the Seoul Central District Court.
On July 10, the court convicted Taeil and two co-defendants—identified as Mr. Lee and Mr. Hong—of aggravated quasi-rape under South Korea’s Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. Prosecutors had initially sought a seven-year sentence during a hearing held on June 18.
The conviction stems from a June 2024 incident, in which an intoxicated foreign woman was sexually assaulted while unconscious at Mr. Lee’s residence. The judge noted that the victim was in a state of helplessness and highlighted the significant psychological trauma she endured, particularly as the crime occurred in an unfamiliar country.
Along with the prison sentence, the ruling requires Taeil and the others to complete 40 hours of sexual violence education and prohibits them from working at institutions involving children or adolescents for five years.
Taeil’s legal counsel requested leniency based on a written confession submitted to authorities. However, the court dismissed the request, stating the confession came only after a search and seizure and did not qualify as voluntary surrender.
The judge acknowledged that the defendants were first-time offenders and that the victim did not wish to pursue further punishment. Still, the seriousness of the crime warranted a custodial sentence.
Taeil, who had previously been tried without detention, was taken into custody immediately after sentencing. When asked if he had any final remarks, he remained silent.
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