South Korean K-pop Singer Taeil Sentenced to Three and a Half Years for Rape
Court orders treatment program for the three offenders who assaulted a Chinese tourist in Seoul.
A South Korean court has sentenced K-pop singer Taeil, formerly of the band NCT, to three years and six months in prison for his involvement in a group rape case.
Along with two accomplices, known only as Lee and Hong in local reports, Taeil admitted to taking turns assaulting a Chinese tourist in June.
The district judge in Seoul described the crime as 'extremely grave' but reduced the sentence from the seven-year request by prosecutors, noting that it was the first offense for all three men.
In addition to their prison terms, the court mandated 40 hours of a treatment program designed for individuals who have committed acts of sexual violence.
The incident occurred after they met their victim at a bar in Itaewon district in Seoul, where she became 'heavily intoxicated' after drinking with them.
The men then took her to Lee's house in a taxi and proceeded to assault her.
South Korean law classifies this type of rape as aggravated due to it being a group attack and quasi-rape because the victim was unconscious at the time.
Taeil left NCT in August last year when allegations first surfaced, but the details of the crime remained undisclosed until now.
NCT is known for its experimental music spanning various genres and has gained international recognition with some releases charting on Billboard lists.
Along with two accomplices, known only as Lee and Hong in local reports, Taeil admitted to taking turns assaulting a Chinese tourist in June.
The district judge in Seoul described the crime as 'extremely grave' but reduced the sentence from the seven-year request by prosecutors, noting that it was the first offense for all three men.
In addition to their prison terms, the court mandated 40 hours of a treatment program designed for individuals who have committed acts of sexual violence.
The incident occurred after they met their victim at a bar in Itaewon district in Seoul, where she became 'heavily intoxicated' after drinking with them.
The men then took her to Lee's house in a taxi and proceeded to assault her.
South Korean law classifies this type of rape as aggravated due to it being a group attack and quasi-rape because the victim was unconscious at the time.
Taeil left NCT in August last year when allegations first surfaced, but the details of the crime remained undisclosed until now.
NCT is known for its experimental music spanning various genres and has gained international recognition with some releases charting on Billboard lists.
