Former South Korean singer Moon Taeil, widely known as Taeil, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for his involvement in the gang rape of a Chinese tourist, as confirmed by Seoul District Court.

The 31-year-old former member of the globally acclaimed K-pop group NCT was convicted alongside two other individuals, identified only by their surnames Lee and Hong. All three received identical sentences and were taken into custody immediately following the court’s decision. They were also ordered to complete 40 hours of a court-mandated sex offender rehabilitation program.

The assault occurred in June 2024, when the three men met the victim at a bar in Seoul’s Itaewon district. After drinking together, the woman became severely intoxicated and lost consciousness.

The men then took her by taxi to one of their homes, where they assaulted her while she was unconscious and unable to give consent. Under South Korean law, the crime is considered both “aggravated rape” due to the involvement of multiple offenders and “quasi-rape” because the victim could not consent.

During the trial, all three defendants confessed to the crime. Although the prosecution requested a seven-year sentence, the court issued a more lenient verdict, citing the fact that this was the first criminal offense for each of the accused. Nevertheless, the judge emphasized the seriousness and brutality of the crime.

Taeil began his music career in 2016 as part of NCT U, later joining NCT 127, a subunit of the highly successful K-pop group NCT under SM Entertainment. The group gained international recognition with multiple songs appearing on Billboard charts.

In August 2023, Taeil was abruptly removed from the group. At the time, no official reason was given, which led to speculation.

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