Another idol convicted of sexual crimes has emerged. Taeyil, a former member of NCT, has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison for allegedly gang-raping a foreign woman with acquaintances.

On the 10th, the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Lee Hyun-kyung) sentenced Taeyil to 3 years and 6 months in prison for the charge of aggravated rape under the Sexual Violence Punishment Law and ordered his detention. Two acquaintances also received the same sentence and were detained. The court also ordered him to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program, disclose personal information, and be restricted from employment with child and youth-related organizations and disability-related organizations for five years.

The court criticized, "The defendant took advantage of the victim's drunken, incapacitated state to engage in successive sexual intercourse, which is of extremely serious nature." It noted, "The victim is a foreign traveler who likely suffered significant psychological pain after being victimized in an unfamiliar place." However, it explained that the fact that all were first-time offenders, acknowledged the crime, and the victim did not wish to pursue punishment were considered mitigating factors in sentencing.

Previously, on June 13 last year at around 2:33 a.m., Taeyil and two friends are accused of incapacitating a Chinese woman they met at a bar in Itaewon, Yongsan District, and then taking a taxi to their residence in Bangbae-dong, where they allegedly gang-raped the woman who had passed out.

The police initiated an investigation after the victim's report and questioned Taeyil. In August of the same year, they conducted a summons investigation. From June, when the crime occurred, until the summons investigation in August, Taeyil was able to continue his NCT activities without any issues at all. The police applied for arrest warrants for Taeyil and two accomplices, but they were denied on the grounds that the defendants admitted to the crime, diminishing the necessity of arrest. Ultimately, the Seoul Bangbae Police Station transferred Taeyil to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office without detention on September 12 last year.

Additionally, while there were suspicions that the gang rape charge was applied due to the possession of a deadly weapon, it has been reported that this is not true. The crime of aggravated rape is established when a perpetrator engages in sexual intercourse with someone who is incapacitated by mental or physical inability to resist, either alone or in collusion with two or more people. Taeyil's case falls under the latter category.

As a result, Taeyil's contract with his agency, SM Entertainment, was terminated, and he faced disgraceful expulsion from the group NCT. Members quickly unfollowed Taeyil's social media account as part of distancing themselves from him. Given the seriousness of Taeyil's crimes, this outcome was perhaps inevitable.

Taeyil's case had a sentencing date set immediately after the first trial concluded last month. During the first hearing, the prosecution stated, "The defendants committed gang rape against a foreign female tourist, making this a very serious matter and indicating an extremely poor crime quality," and requested a seven-year prison sentence for the three individuals.

Particularly, the prosecution pointed out, "The defendants even discussed deliberately sending the victim to a different location by taxi after the crime, intending to prevent her from remembering the crime scene and to obstruct police tracking due to her being foreign," and raised doubts about whether the defendants genuinely repent and reflect on the incident.

In response, Taeyil stated, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who has felt disappointed in me," adding, "If I could receive leniency, I consider it the last chance in my life and I will do my best to contribute to society in any way I can."

However, the first-instance court sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in prison and ordered his detention. Recently, there have been instances where fans have come to court to support various stars during trials, but in Taeyil's case, possibly due to the unprecedented nature of the sexual crime, there were no such fans present.

Despite committing sexual crimes, Taeyil continued to hide it and engage in NCT-related activities, drawing significant criticism from fans. His agency was also unaware of the facts until discovering them, and upon learning, swiftly announced the termination of his contract, responding late to the situation. It is perhaps inevitable that resentment towards Taeyil has intensified.

Meanwhile, as Taeyil received his prison sentence, stars who have previously faced trials for sexual crimes are being reexamined. Kris, a former member of EXO, moved to China and worked under the name Wu Yifan, and was arrested in 2020 for allegedly gang-raping three intoxicated women, receiving a 13-year prison sentence.

Famous cases also include Seungri from Big Bang and Choi Jong-hoon from FT Island, who were entangled in the Burning Sun Gate in 2019. Seungri was tried on nine charges, including solicitation of prostitution and sexual violence crimes, ultimately receiving a 1 year and 6 months prison sentence and was released last year after serving his term. Choi Jong-hoon was tried for gang rape and illegal filming before receiving a 2 year and 6 months prison sentence for violating laws related to violent crimes (aggravated rape). After being released in November 2021, there have been no further updates regarding his situation.

Himchan from B.A.P was sentenced to 10 months in prison for sexual assault in July 2018, and after his release, he was arrested for groping two women while drunk at a bar in Yongsan District in April 2022. He is also accused of raping a female fan, identified as A, who took him home after a night out, filming the incident and sending the photos to her in June of the same year.

It has been reported that Himchan committed another crime while appealing his first offense, shocking many. In the trials for the second and third offenses he committed while under arrest, he ultimately received a sentence of 3 years in prison with 5 years of probation.

[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by SM Entertainment

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