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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Hallyuwood devider Supreme Court dismisses appeal of ex-NCT member Taeil, upholds his prison sentence

Supreme Court dismisses appeal of ex-NCT member Taeil, upholds his prison sentence

Published Dec 27, 2025 03:20 pm
Former NCT member Moon Taeil (Instagram)
Former NCT member Moon Taeil (Instagram)

South Korea’s Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of former K-pop boy band NCT member Moon Taeil, 31, and upheld his original prison sentence of three and a half years for aggravated rape. 

On Dec. 26, the Supreme Court's First Division dismissed the appeal of Taeil and two accomplices, identified by the surnames Lee and Hong, deeming that the grounds for the appeal were unjustified, Korean media reported. 

The three were indicted for sexually assaulting an intoxicated female Chinese tourist at Lee’s residence in Bangbae, Seocho, Seoul on June 13 last year. 

They were charged for aggravated rape under the Korean law Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. 

Article 4 (aggravated rape) of the law states that “a person who commits a crime prescribed in Article 297 [rape] 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,” according to the  Korea Legislation Research Institute.  

Former NCT member Moon Taeil (Instagram)
Former NCT member Moon Taeil (Instagram)

In the latest decision, the Supreme Court also ordered Taeil and the two to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and are prohibited from working at institutions related to children, youth, and the disabled for five years.

They were indicted in February this year and the first trial was held on June 18. 

On July 10 this year, the Seoul Central District Court found the three guilty of the crime and sentenced them to three and a half years in prison for aggravated rape. 

“The defendants are found guilty of special rape. Considering that the victim was intoxicated and unable to resist, the nature of the crime is very serious. The victim is a foreign tourist and suffered great mental distress as a result of the crime committed in an unfamiliar place,” the court ruled. 

Following the decision, the three filed appeals. Last Oct. 17, the Seoul High Court dismissed the appeals. 

"The appeals of both the defendant and the prosecution are dismissed,” the Seoul High Court ruled. 

On Aug. 28 last year, SM Entertainment, NCT’s agency, announced Taeil’s expulsion from the group due to the criminal case. 

“We have recently learned that Taeil has been accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime. 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. 

Based on the sentence, Taeil will be released from prison in January 2029.

Taeil debuted as a member of NCT U and NCT 127 in 2016.
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