Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of rape and sexual assault.
Moon Taeil, a former member of K-pop boy group NCT, may face up to seven years in prison following his admission to aggravated quasi-rape charges during his first court appearance on Wednesday, June 18.
During the trial, the three defendants including Taeil were charged with violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (Aggravated Rape).
According to a report from Korean media, when asked if he acknowledges the charges, Taeil answered: “I admit to all the charges.” Aside from him, his two accomplices, Lee and Hong, also pleaded guilty.
After admitting to the charges, Taeil’s lawyer revealed that a settlement with the victim was made.
“The victim accepted the apology and expressed to the investigative authorities her intention not to punish him,” the lawyer said.
His lawyer also appealed for leniency, as they mentioned that Taeil had already undergone a sexual violence prevention program.
“In penitence for his wrongdoings, he completed a sexual violence prevention program and has undergone psychological counseling, vowing never to repeat the same mistake again,” the lawyer added.
In his final statement, Taeil expressed remorse and apologized to everyone.
“I am so sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me. If you show leniency, I will think of it as the last chance I have been given in my life, and I will do my best to live my life doing something that will be of some help to society,” the former K-pop idol said.
At the trial, the prosecution described Taeil’s sexual assault case as “very serious.”
“The defendants committed a group sexual assault on a foreign female tourist, so the case is very serious and the nature of the crime is extremely heinous,” the prosecution said.
“After the crime, the defendants even talked about sending the victim off in a taxi to a different place than the crime site. They intended to use the fact that the victim was a foreigner to prevent her from remembering the location of the crime or to prevent the police from tracking her down,” they added.
“Considering the defendant’s arguments, it is very questionable whether he truly repents and reflects on the incident,” they stated.
With this, the prosecution seeks 7-year prison sentence for the K-pop idol.
Taeil was first accused of sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman with two accomplices in June last year. He was summoned by the police for questioning on August of the same year. Around this time, SM Entertainment, the agency of Taeil when he was in NCT announced his withdrawal from the group. The K-pop idol was indicted without detention in March 2025.
Taeil’s final sentence will be handed down by the court on July 10, 2025.
