Hey everyone, I have some pretty heavy and upsetting news to share today that’s been all over the Korean media. It involves a former member of a very famous K-Pop group and a really serious crime.
Who Is Involved?
The person at the center of this is Taeil (Moon Tae-il), who many of you will know as a former main vocalist for NCT and its subunit, NCT 127. He was known for his incredible voice and was a pretty popular member since their debut. However, he was removed from the group and his contract with SM Entertainment was terminated last year after these allegations came to light.
The Supreme Court’s Final Decision
On December 26th, South Korea’s Supreme Court upheld the lower courts’ decision, finalizing Taeil’s sentence. He has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison. This wasn’t his only punishment; he is also required to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and is banned from working in places related to children and adolescents for five years after his release.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Korean legal system, the Supreme Court rejecting his appeal (what’s called ‘상고 기각’ or ‘sango gigak’ here) means this is the absolute final verdict. There are no more chances to appeal; the case is officially closed, and he will serve the time.
What Exactly Happened?
According to the court’s findings, the incident happened back in June of last year (2024). Taeil and two of his friends met a female foreign tourist at a club in Itaewon, a popular district in Seoul. The woman became heavily intoxicated, and they took her to one of the friends’ homes where they collectively assaulted her. The court documents stated that they took advantage of her being in a state where she was unable to resist, describing the crime as having a “very poor nature.”
The Fallout and Industry Reaction
This kind of scandal is a massive deal here, and the industry acted relatively quickly. Once the police investigation began in earnest last year, his agency, SM Entertainment, officially announced his departure from NCT and terminated his exclusive contract, stating that the situation was incredibly serious and they could no longer maintain a relationship of trust with him.
It’s a stark reminder that fame and status don’t place anyone above the law. The swift and final nature of this verdict sends a very strong message. It’s a sad and frankly disturbing end to what was once a promising K-Pop career, and our thoughts are with the victim who had to endure such a horrible experience while traveling in a foreign country.
