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Over a year after the incident first came to light, former NCT member Moon Taeil appeared in court for his first official hearing on June 18, 2025. This marked a crucial point in the ongoing assault case that has shocked the K-pop community and the public since mid-2024. Taeil, along with two other unnamed individuals, stood trial for charges related to the sexual assault of an intoxicated foreign woman.
In court, all three defendants admitted to the charges against them. They acknowledged their involvement in the crime, which prosecutors described as a calculated act carried out against a vulnerable person. Due to the severity of the situation and the emotional damage caused to the victim, the prosecution requested a seven-year prison sentence for each of the men. While the final ruling has not yet been made, their confessions are expected to play a significant role in determining the court’s decision.
According to legal sources, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office officially indicted Taeil and the other two men on February 28, 2025. The indictment was made through the office’s Women and Children’s Crime Investigation Division 1, and the men were charged under the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The charges are related to an incident from June 2024, in which the three are accused of taking advantage of an intoxicated foreign woman who was unable to resist or give consent.
SM Entertainment, the company behind NCT, announced Taeil’s departure from the group in August 2024, well before full details of the case were shared publicly. At the time, the agency only said he was facing serious criminal charges. Shortly after, Taeil was also removed from SM Entertainment’s artist list, signaling a complete end to his association with the company. This decision reflected the agency’s firm stance against criminal behavior. Interestingly, despite the nature of the charges, Taeil was not taken into custody during the early phases of the investigation.
Now, with the court preparing to deliver its final verdict, both the public and the K-pop industry are watching closely. The outcome will determine the official legal consequences for Taeil and the other two defendants. More updates will be shared once the court releases its ruling.