Moon Taeil, a former member of K-pop boy bands NCT and NCT 127, was revealed to be being investigated for quasi-rape.
The female victim filed a complaint for sex crime against Taeil with the police on June 13, a day before his birthday on June 14.
He was summoned by the police on Aug. 28. On the same day, agency SM Entertainment announced his removal from NCT due to the allegations.
EX-NCT member Taeil (Instagram)
“We have recently learned that Taeil has been accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime,” the agency said.
It added, “While assessing the facts, we recognized the gravity of the matter and decided that he could no longer continue his team activities. After discussing it with Taeil, we decided to have him leave the team.”
“Taeil is currently cooperating faithfully with the police investigation, and we will provide additional information as the investigation progresses. We deeply apologize for the controversy caused by our artist,” it said.
The following day, SM Entertainment stated, “Our company and Taeil first learned of the lawsuit in the middle of this month [August]. Taeil was investigated by the police on Aug. 28.”
The police turned over Taeil’s case to the prosecution on Sept. 12.
A new report by Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo on Oct. 7 stated that Taeil is being investigated for quasi-rape.
Article 299 of Korea’s Criminal Act states how quasi-rape and quasi-indecent act by compulsion are committed. It states that “a person who has sexual intercourse with another or commits an indecent act on another by taking advantage of the other's condition of unconsciousness or inability to resist shall be punished in accordance with Article 297 , 297-2, or 298.”
The news report cited that if Taeil is found guilty, he will be sentenced to at least seven years in prison or life imprisonment based on Article 4 of the law Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes
Article 4 refers to aggravated rape and states that “ person who commits a crime prescribed in Article 297 of the Criminal Act, carrying any weapon or other dangerous object or jointly with any other persons, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for an indefinite term or for at least seven years.”
Article 297 is about rape: “A person who, by means of violence or intimidation, has sexual intercourse with another shall be punished by imprison with labor for a limited term of at least three years.”
The Chosun Ilbo report stated that Taeil is accused of sexually assaulting a woman while intoxicated together with two acquaintances in June. None of the acquaintances were famous.
It added that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office assigned Taeil’s case to the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division, which previously handled the gang rape and illegal filming distribution cases of Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon, a former member of FT Island.
SM Entertainment declined to comment on the case, saying, “It's difficult to say anything since it's an issue that is currently under investigation."
Following the allegations, Taeil made his Instagram account private. He has lost many followers due to the controversy. From more than six million followers, he has 4.7 million followers as of Oct. 9.