Former NCT Taeil Pleads Guilty in Gang Rape, Vows Life Atoning for Sin

Ex NCT Taeil appeals his prison sentence.
He admitted guilt for the group assault.
A settlement was reached with the victim.

Former NCT member Moon Taeil, along with two accomplices, appeared in the Seoul High Court for their first appellate hearing on Wednesday, September 17th. The hearing, presided over by the court's Criminal Division 11-3, marks the next chapter in a case that has sent shockwaves through the K-pop community and beyond.

This appeal comes nearly two months after the initial sentencing, where all three men were found guilty of aggravated quasi-rape under South Korea’s Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. Both the defendants and the prosecution filed appeals contesting the Seoul Central District Court's ruling, sending the case to a higher court for a new judgment.

A Guilty Plea from Taeil

During the hearing, Taeil and his co-defendants formally acknowledged their actions, admitting to the charges of group rape. In a statement read to the court, Taeil expressed a deep sense of remorse for his crime.

“I deeply regret causing harm to the victim and feel deeply sorry. I also apologize to everyone who felt disappointed in me,” he stated, quoted from Allkpop.

He went further, adding, “I will live during the rest of my life aware of my sin. I will not commit crime again. I will live honestly, never forgetting the weight of the law.”

“Once again I am sorry for the loss I caused. I sincerely apologize," Taeil concluded with a direct apology.

This appeal hearing is a direct result of both parties disagreeing with the initial sentence of three and a half years in prison handed down on July 10th. Taeil and his co-defendants are appealing for a more lenient sentence, with his lawyers citing his lack of prior criminal record, his admission of guilt, and the fact that a settlement was reached with the victim, who reportedly no longer wishes for punishment. Conversely, the prosecution has also appealed, arguing that the three-and-a-half-year sentence is far too lenient for the severity of the crime. They had initially sought a seven-year prison term for Taeil, emphasizing the "extremely serious and morally reprehensible" nature of the offense, which they believe was premeditated.

The case has ignited a firestorm of reactions online, particularly on social media platforms like Twitter. While some have pointed to his apology, the overwhelming majority of netizens have expressed outrage and condemnation, criticizing the perceived lightness of the initial sentence and questioning the sincerity of his remorse given the brutal details of the crime.

"saying you raped someone in a “moment of weakness” is quite literally the most disgusting thing i have ever read in my life. he will end up in the deepest pit of heII," neizen state, quoted from X.

"And f*ck Taeil I hope he gets 10 more years just for blabbering his stupid mouth," another chimed.

"Seriously this b*tch needs to shut up
rape isn't moment of the weakness, it’s a crime "he has lived diligently" well,that's the question🤡 who knows how many victims are there that just didn't report anything because they thought no one would believe them," one netizen tweeted.

The Start of the Case and Its Aftermath

The scandal first erupted in June 2024 when a foreign woman reported to the police that she had been sexually assaulted by Taeil and two other men. The investigation revealed that the trio met the heavily intoxicated woman, a Chinese tourist, at a club in Seoul's Itaewon district in the early hours of the morning. They allegedly took her via taxi to a private residence in Banpo-dong where the assault occurred while she was unconscious. Shockingly, it was also uncovered that they later discussed strategies to avoid detection, including manipulating taxi GPS data.

In the wake of the allegations, SM Entertainment moved swiftly to terminate its exclusive contract with Taeil in October 2024, stating that trust had been "irrevocably broken." The next hearing in the appeal process is scheduled for October 17th, where the court will continue to examine the arguments from both sides.

Source: Allkpop, X, NAVER, Chosun Biz