Moon Taeil, a former member of the popular K-pop group NCT, is currently facing serious legal trouble after admitting in court to being involved in a sexual assault case. During the first trial held on June 18 at the Seoul Central District Court, Taeil confessed to participating in the assault of a foreign woman who was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. The charge falls under South Korea’s “special quasi-rape” law, which addresses sexual crimes committed against individuals unable to resist due to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In court, Taeil also spoke about how his former agency, SM Entertainment, cut ties with him soon after the investigation began. According to Taeil, the agency terminated his contract when he was summoned by police for questioning. He said that this sudden dismissal left him without a stable job, and since then, he has been working part-time to support himself. He shared that after his departure from NCT in October 2024, which happened just two months after the investigation began, he has had no full-time employment and is now doing whatever jobs he can find to get by.
The assault case dates back to June 2024, when Taeil and two of his non-celebrity acquaintances were accused of sexually assaulting an intoxicated foreign woman. Following the victim’s report, the Seoul Bangbae Police Station launched an investigation and applied for arrest warrants for all three men involved. During the first trial, all three defendants admitted to the charges. As a result, the prosecution is seeking a 7-year prison sentence for each of the accused and has also requested that Taeil be barred from certain types of employment for 10 years, particularly jobs that involve vulnerable groups such as children or those requiring trust and responsibility.
The final verdict in the case is expected to be announced on July 10. Taeil’s admission and the details of the case have sparked widespread public reaction, raising questions about celebrity accountability and the handling of serious criminal behavior in the entertainment industry.