K-Pop Star Taeil Sentenced to 3½ Years in Prison for Assaulting Tourist

Taeil, alongside two accomplices, has been sentenced to three and a half years for sexually assaulting a Chinese tourist in South Korea, igniting public outrage over the length of the sentence.

In a high-profile case that has sparked public outrage, Taeil, a member of the well-known K-Pop group NCT, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for raping a Chinese tourist. The incident took place last year when the now 31-year-old singer, whose real name is Moon Tae-il, and two companions were reported to have met the victim at a bar in Seoul.

Following the sentencing handed down by the Seoul Central District Court on July 10, 2025, it was revealed that the defendants had taken the woman to a residence under the influence of alcohol, where they assaulted her. Taeil and his accomplices pleaded guilty prior to their trial, which resulted in prosecutors advocating for a more stringent seven-year sentence. However, Judge Lee Hyun-kyung deemed three and a half years adequate, noting the serious nature of the crime and the psychological impact on the victim.

The court session witnessed Taeil dressed in casual attire, revealing no visible emotional reaction as the judge outlined the details of the ruling. Despite the subdued reactions within the courtroom, social media erupted with criticism over what many viewed as a lenient sentence for the defendants. Users expressed their anger, arguing that the punishment did not align with the severity of the crime and the mental suffering inflicted upon the victim in a foreign environment.