"I acknowledge all my sins" - Former NCT's Taeil admits crimes at appeal trial in aggravated rape case

On September 17, the 11-3 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court held the first hearing of the appeal trial for former NCT member Moon Taeil and two others. According to a report from South Korean media outlet STARNEWS, during his closing statement, Moon admitted to all charges and expressed remorse.

He said he recognized his crimes and reflected on them. He acknowledged his actions saying,

"I acknowledge all my sins and reflect on them. Above all, I know that the wounds felt by the victim cannot be completely healed by any words or actions. Nevertheless, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize."

He acknowledged responsibility for his actions and conveyed regret to the victim.

"I will live the rest of my life as a penance for the irreversible pain I caused with my foolish actions. Seeing the victim's life and family fall apart due to my wrongdoings made me realize just how wrong I was." He said.

He further stated that he intended to spend the rest of his life atoning for his wrongdoing, saying,

"I will live the rest of my life atoning for my sins, I will never commit a crime again. I will live honestly without forgetting the weight of the law. I apologize once again for the harm I have caused. I am truly sorry.

As per the outlet, on the day, the former NCT member, along with 2 other defendants, attended the session dressed in brown prison uniforms. Both the prosecution and the defense appealed the initial ruling, which sentenced Taeil to 3 years and 6 months in prison.

Taeil's legal team argued that the sentence was 'unjust'. On the other hand, the prosecution sought for a sentence for 7 years, consistent with their original request.

---

Former NCT member Taeil's sexual assault case

The case stems from an incident in June 2024, in which the former NCT member and 2 others were accused of assaulting a foreign woman they encountered at a bar in Itaewon. The allegations included sexual assault against an intoxicated victim.

In March 2025, Taeil was indicted without detention, along with two acquaintances. They were prosecute for charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (aggravated rape). The initial hearing was held approximately 2 months after the case was filed.

The prosecution had originally sought a 7-year prison sentence, citing the severity of the crime and the defendants’ subsequent conduct. This included allegedly attempting to mislead investigators by moving the victim to another location. Reports also indicated that the defendants mentioned the victim’s foreign status in a group chat, potentially to hinder tracing efforts.

i-dle사랑 | Soojin공주ꫂ ၴႅၴ | BDC🍒

@AlonsoNvl

“He has lived diligently until now, but committed this act in a moment of weakness” If I had a coin for every time I read this excuse, I’d be a billionaire

In July 2025, the Seoul Central District Court delivered its first-instance ruling, sentencing Taeil and his 3 co-defendants to 3 years and 6 months in prison. The court also issued arrest warrants, required the defendants to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.

They further imposed a 5-year restriction on employment at children- and youth-related institutions. The ruling further mandated the disclosure of the defendants’ personal information. The former NCT member was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing.

The court explained that, despite the defendants’ confessions, objective evidence had been collected, and their whereabouts were known at the time they turned themselves in. All sentencing conditions were taken into account in determining the penalty.

tora ༊*·˚

@kjiflower_

okay goodbye taeil you're devil in disguise, I deeply regret having been one of your fans and I wish I could forget those days and never see you again, I hope the victim is doing well and that she is vindicated by the final verdict in october

Following the verdict, both the prosecution and all three defendants, including Taeil, filed appeals. On July 17, 2025, Star News reported that Tae-il officially submitted his appeal, a day after his co-defendants had filed theirs.

Amid heightened public scrutiny over the case, SM Entertainment terminated its contract with Taeil on October 15, 2024. The agency stated that the ongoing criminal proceedings made it impossible to continue a professional relationship and noted that the termination was carried out with the singer’s consent.

---

The court has scheduled Taeil’s sentencing for October 17 at 2:30 pm KST.