"Moon Taeil, K-Pop idol, receives prison sentence exceeding three years for role in assault of unconscious tourist."

"Moon Taeil, K-Pop idol, receives prison sentence exceeding three years for role in assault of unconscious tourist."

Moon Taeil, a South Korean singer and former member of NCT, has been sentenced one month after admitting guilt to a rape charge.

The 31-year-old, whose full name is Moon Tae-il, received a sentence of three years and six months in prison, along with two co-defendants, at the Seoul Central District Court on July 10. This information has been reported by various outlets, including the BBC, The New York Times, and The Korea Herald.

Taeil and his accomplices were accused of raping an intoxicated Chinese tourist who had visited South Korea last year. According to the indictment, the three men met the woman at a bar in the Itaewon district of Seoul. After consuming several drinks, they took her to one of their residences, where the sexual assault occurred.

Judge Lee Hyun-kyung remarked, “The defendants took turns committing sexual acts against the victim, who was severely intoxicated and unable to resist. The nature of the crime is particularly grave.” The court also noted that the victim, as a foreign tourist in an unfamiliar environment, likely experienced significant psychological distress.

Last month, Taeil and the others pleaded guilty to charges of special quasi-rape, which involves two or more individuals engaging in sexual acts with someone who is unconscious. The prosecution had sought a seven-year prison sentence for the trio; however, since it was their first offense, the court decided on a reduced sentence, along with a requirement to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.

On August 20, 2024, NCT announced that they were parting ways with Taeil following the allegations of a “sexual crime.” The group did not provide further details at that time. Their label, SM Entertainment, released an official statement on X, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and confirming that Taeil would no longer participate in group activities.

Taeil is not the first K-pop star to face imprisonment due to sexual-related charges. In 2021, Seungri, a former member of Big Bang, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual solicitation and gambling. Additionally, K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon received sentences of six and five years, respectively, for raping intoxicated women.

Taeil was an original member of NCT, also known as Neo Culture Technology, which was established in 2016. He was part of one of its sub-groups, NCT 127.