SEOUL, South Korea — Former NCT singer Moon Tae‑il (stage name: Taeil) has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison for the aggravated rape of a Chinese tourist. The district court in Seoul deemed the crime “extremely grave,” though the sentence was reduced by half from prosecutors’ request of seven years due to the defendants being first-time offenders.
Taeil (31) and two accomplices—identified only as Lee and Hong—pleaded guilty in June to assaulting the victim in a group attack. The court recognized this as an aggravated rape, noting the victim was unconscious at the time.
According to court records, the victim met the three men at a bar in Itaewon. After heavy drinking, she was taken to Lee’s home, where the assault occurred.
In addition to prison time, the court mandated that each offender complete 40 hours of a sexual violence perpetrator treatment program.
Taeil, whose birth name is Moon Tae‑il, departed from NCT in August last year following allegations, although the specifics of his offense were not initially disclosed. NCT, formed in January 2016, has earned global success including appearances on Billboard charts.
This sentence has sparked debate in South Korea, with some locals calling it too lenient and saying celebrities “have it easy” in sexual assault cases.
