Former NCT member Taeil (real name Moon Tae-il) has filed an appeal against his 3.5-year prison sentence for aggravated quasi-r*pe, while prosecutors argue the punishment is too lenient and demand a stricter 7-year term. The case involves a group assault on an unconscious foreign woman in Seoul in June 2024, sparking widespread outrage.
Taeil and Co-Defendants Challenge Court Ruling
On July 16, 2025, Taeil submitted his appeal to the Seoul Central District Court, following his two accomplices, Lee and Hong, who filed theirs a day earlier. All three were convicted of special quasi-rpe under South Korea’s Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sxual Crimes.
The court had sentenced them to 3.5 years in prison, plus 40 hours of a s*xual violence treatment program and a 5-year employment ban in child-related fields. The judge called the crime “extremely grave” but reduced the sentence due to their first-time offender status, admission of guilt, and settlement with the victim.
“I deeply regret the hurt I caused the victim and apologize to everyone disappointed by this incident. If you show leniency, I will consider this my last chance at life and do my best to contribute to society,” Taeil said during the trial.
Prosecution Argues Sentence Is Too Light
Prosecutors had originally sought a 7-year prison term, calling the assault “morally reprehensible” and premeditated. They appealed the ruling on July 15, insisting the punishment does not match the crime’s severity.
“The defendants exploited the victim, who was too intoxicated to resist. The nature of the offense is particularly egregious,” the court stated.
Evidence showed the group met the Chinese tourist at an Itaewon bar, got her heavily drunk, and took her to Lee’s home, where the assault occurred. DNA from all three men was found on the victim.
Public Outrage Over Perceived Leniency
Many netizens and legal experts criticized the 3.5-year sentence as too light, given the crime’s brutality. South Korean law defines “special quasi-r*pe” as assault by multiple perpetrators on an unconscious victim, punishable by life imprisonment.
SM Entertainment, Taeil’s former agency, terminated his contract and removed him from NCT in August 2024 after the allegations surfaced.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The case will now move to an appeals court, where both sides will argue for their desired outcomes. If the prosecution succeeds, Taeil could face nearly double his current sentence.
Credits: The Korea Herald, Chosun Biz
