Former NCT member TAEIL, 31, who was taken into custody after receiving a prison sentence at his first trial on aggravated rape charges, heads to his first appeals hearing today (Oct. 17, local time).
The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 11-3 is set to open the initial appeals hearing on Oct. 17 for three defendants, including TAEIL, on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (aggravated rape).
Prosecutors said TAEIL and two acquaintances assaulted an intoxicated foreign woman in June last year. They sought a seven-year sentence, but in July the Seoul Central District Court handed TAEIL three years and six months, citing his lack of prior offenses and the victim’s stated wish not to seek punishment. The two co-defendants received the same terms.
The court also ordered all three to complete 40 hours of a sex-offense treatment program and imposed a five-year ban on employment at institutions involving children and teenagers. TAEIL, who had been tried without detention, was remanded from the courtroom immediately after sentencing.
Both TAEIL and his co-defendants, as well as prosecutors, appealed the verdict. TAEIL’s side has submitted letters of apology and pleas for leniency, seeking a reduced sentence. Prosecutors counter that the offense was planned and serious, arguing for a heavier penalty.
In his final statement at a previous hearing, TAEIL said, “I regret causing the greatest harm to the victim. I’m sorry to everyone who felt disappointed,” adding, “If granted leniency, I will treat it as my last chance and live in a way that contributes to society.”
TAEIL debuted in 2016 as a member of NCT U and NCT 127. After the case came to light, his exclusive contract was terminated in August 2024 and he was removed from the group. He also faced backlash when it later emerged that he had appeared on social media livestreams and at fan events even after being booked in the case.
Photo by Baik Seung-chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)