Moon Tae-il, a former member of the K-pop group NCT, has been jailed for 3.5 years after being found guilty of rape. The Seoul court determined that the 31-year-old singer, along with two men identified as Lee and Hong, took part in the sexual assault of a Chinese tourist who was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident in June 2024.
The case, which gained significant media attention, involved the group taking turns to assault the victim during her visit to South Korea. All three men admitted to the charges during court proceedings. Taeil, once a prominent figure in the K-pop industry, was officially indicted in March and convicted on Thursday.
The Seoul Central District Court found Moon Tae-il and his two accomplices guilty of “special quasi-rape,” which under South Korean law refers to group sexual assault involving a victim who is unconscious or unable to resist. While the crime carries a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, the court handed down a lighter sentence—three years and six months—citing their lack of prior criminal records and guilty pleas.
The judge described the crime as “particularly grave,” noting that the defendants took turns assaulting the victim, who was heavily intoxicated and unable to defend herself. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year prison term for each man. However, the court reduced the sentence, also taking into account that the victim had settled and chose not to pursue further legal action.
The assault took place in June 2024, after Taeil and the others met the Chinese tourist at a bar in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul. According to the court, the woman became severely intoxicated during their drinking session. The three men helped her into a taxi and took her to Lee’s residence, where the sexual assault occurred.
All three men admitted to the charges during their court appearance in June 2025. Along with prison time, the court ordered them to complete 40 hours of a treatment program for sex offenders. They were taken into custody immediately after the ruling on July 4, 2025.
Taeil quietly exited the K-pop group NCT in August 2024, shortly after the allegations surfaced. At the time, SM Entertainment terminated his contract, confirming he had been questioned by police. The label acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and stated Taeil would no longer participate in group activities.
Taeil debuted in 2016 as part of SM Entertainment’s NCT project and later became a main member of the subunit NCT 127. Known for his vocals and strong stage presence, he contributed to multiple successful albums, including Sticker, which achieved high rankings on international charts. The group has not released new material since the case became public.
Public reaction to the sentencing has been critical, especially among K-pop fans, many of whom expressed disappointment over what they considered a lenient punishment. Critics argue that the seriousness of the crime warranted a harsher sentence, especially given the lasting impact on the victim and the global visibility of K-pop idols.
Image credits: Moon Tae-il
