Taeyil (real name Moon Taeyil), a former member of the group NCT, has been sentenced to a prison term in the first instance for charges of special rape, and both the prosecution and Taeyil have appealed the verdict.
According to the legal community, Taeyil submitted his appeal on the 16th. Since the prosecution also submitted an appeal on the 15th, it is expected that there will be a dispute over the sentencing in the second instance.
The 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung) sentenced Taeyil and two others to 3 years and 6 months in prison on the 10th for charges of special rape under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. Taeyil, who had been receiving trial while not in custody, was taken into custody in court.
Taeyil was indicted without detention in March for allegedly raping a foreign woman who was intoxicated along with two acquaintances in June of last year. The three, including Taeyil, acknowledged all the charges during the first trial held on the 18th of last month, and the prosecution sought a 7-year prison sentence.
In his final statement, Taeyil expressed, “I deeply regret the pain I have caused the victim and I am sorry. I also apologize to everyone who has felt disappointed by this incident,” and added, “If given leniency, I will consider it the last opportunity in my life and will do my best to contribute to society in any way possible.”
Taeyil debuted in 2016 as part of NCT's unit NCT U and has been active as a member of NCT and its sub-group NCT 127. However, he was expelled from the team after it was revealed that he was accused of sexual crimes in August of last year.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
