Former NCT Member Taeil Sentenced 3.5 Years for Rape in Seoul

Moon Taeil, a former member of the K-pop group NCT, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for a group sexual assault on a heavily intoxicated Chinese tourist in Seoul. Taeil and two accomplices admitted to the crime, which prosecutors had sought a seven-year sentence for, citing the deliberate relocation of the victim to hinder her recollection of the attack. The Seoul Central District Court also ordered the defendants to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment and banned them from working with minors for five years. Despite the serious nature of the crime, the court considered the defendants' status as first-time offenders and the victim's decision not to pursue further punishment as mitigating factors. Taeil was taken into custody immediately after sentencing due to concerns over a potential flight risk. The case has sparked public outcry, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the perceived leniency of the sentence.