Taeil Arrested in Court on Sexual Assault Charges, Sentenced to 3.5 Years
Jul 10, 2025
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A sentencing hearing was held on the 10th for Taeil, accomplice Lee, and Hong, who were indicted on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes at the 26th Criminal Department (C) of the Seoul Central District Court.
On this day, the court sentenced three people, including Taeil, to three and a half years in prison. It also ordered the completion of 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and five-year employment restrictions at organizations related to children, adolescents and the disabled.
The justice department said "The nature of the crime is very bad because the defendants admitted all the crimes and committed them sequentially, taking advantage of the fact that the victim was drunk and unable to protest."
Regarding Taeil's appeal for leniency on the grounds that he turned himself in, it can be evaluated as a legal embroidery, but it is only an artificial reduction. Considering that there was objective evidence at the time of embroidery, where the subject matter was identified, and that it reached embroidery after the search and seizure of the residence, the line was drawn, "There is no double reduction."
However, the fact that all the defendants were first-time offenders and admitted to the crime, and that they agreed with the victim and submitted an application for punishment for the victim served as favorable factors.
The court declared "We issue an arrest warrant because we believe there is a risk of fleeing." As a result, Taeil was arrested in the presence of his parents, acquaintances, and fans. Those presumed to be parents shed tears watching Taeil's fall.
At around 2:33 a.m. on June 13 last year, Taeil and others drunk a foreign woman they met at a bar in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and then took a taxi to move to their residence in Bangbae-dong. After that, he is accused of mass rape of a victim who is intoxicated and unconscious.
At the first hearing held on the 18th of last month, the three admitted all charges of crime.
Taeil is deeply reflecting upon the fact that he left a deep wound to the victim. Through a public defender, he apologized to the victim, and the victim expressed his intention not to punish the investigative agency. Taeil has completed a sex crime prevention education program and is receiving psychological counseling in repentance for his wrongdoings. In the aftermath of this incident, my mother quit her job, and Taeil is only engaged in economic activities to help her acquaintance's restaurant, which makes it difficult to make a living for her family.
Taeil said "I'm sorry to everyone who is disappointed. 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."
However, the prosecution said, `The matter is very serious and the nature of the crime is extremely poor. It is very questionable whether he sincerely reflects on himself. He asked for seven years in prison.
Taeil terminated his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment and withdrew from NCT due to this incident.
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