Former NCT Member Taeil Faces 7-Year Sentence for Sex Crime Charges
Jun 18, 2025
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On the 18th, the first hearing date was held for Taeil, accomplice Lee, and Hong, who were indicted on special charges of quasi-rape under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, at the 26th Criminal Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Hyun-kyung).
Taeil and others are accused of meeting and drinking with the victim at a bar in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at around 2:33 a.m. on June 13 last year, and then taking the victim in a taxi to their residence in Bangbae-dong, and collectively raping the victim who was intoxicated and unconscious.
The prosecution demanded seven years in prison for Taeil and others. According to the evidence submitted by the prosecution, Taeil's group at the time of the crime 'Go out and drive a taxi. They shared text messages such as ' so that they could be taken elsewhere.
The prosecution said, `The case is very serious and the nature of the crime is extremely poor as the defendants sexually assaulted a group of foreign female travelers.' The defendants even said they should deliberately drive a taxi to a different location from the crime site in the process of sending the victims after the crime. The intention was to use the fact that the victim was a foreigner to prevent him from remembering the location of the crime or to prevent the police from tracking him down." He also emphasized that "It is very questionable whether the defendant sincerely repents and reflects on the case when looking at the contents of the defendant's claim.'
Regarding Taeil's submission of a letter of self-sufficiency, he also submitted a document named a letter of self-sufficiency after the seizure and search of the defendants two months after the police incident. It is very questionable whether this can be seen as a embroidery in the meaning of a draft stipulated by the law.
Taeil's side is deeply reflecting on the fact that Taeil left a deep wound to the victim, and he apologized to the victim through a public defender during the investigation process. The victim accepted the apology and expressed his intention not to punish the investigative agency. Reflecting on his wrongdoings, Taeil has completed a sex crime prevention education program, received psychological counseling, and vowed not to commit the same wrongdoings again," he said, appealing for leniency.
In particular, the lawyer argued that Taeil's mother quit her job in the aftermath of the sex crime case, and Taeil is only doing economic activities to help her acquaintance's restaurant, making it difficult for her family to make a living.
Taeil, who revealed that "there is no current job", is sorry to everyone who is disappointed. If you give me leniency, I think it's the last opportunity in my life, and I'll do whatever I can to help society and live my life to the best of my ability. "
Taeil, along with Lee and Hong in March, was indicted without detention on charges of sexually assaulting a drunken foreign woman in June last year. Accordingly, SM Entertainment terminated its exclusive contract with Taeil and withdrew from NCT. NCT members have also unfollowed Taeil's account and walked away. .
The sentencing date for Taeil will be held at 2 p.m. on July 10.
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