K-Pop Singer And Former NCT Member Taeil Jailed For 3.5 Years For Gang Rape Of Tourist
Taeil debuted in 2016 as part of NCT U, the first subunit of the boy group project under SM Entertainment. He later became a key member of NCT 127.
Former NCT member Moon Tae-il, popularly known as Taeil, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for his involvement in the gang rape of an intoxicated Chinese tourist. The verdict was delivered by a district court in Seoul on Thursday, as reported by The Korea Times. Taeil, 31, was immediately taken into custody following the court's ruling.
Two other men, identified only by their surnames Lee and Hong, were also found guilty in the same case and received identical sentences. All three defendants have been ordered to undergo 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred in June 2024. Taeil and his accomplices reportedly met the victim at a bar in Seoul's popular nightlife district, Itaewon. After drinking together, the woman became severely intoxicated. The trio then took her by taxi to Lee's residence, where they sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious.
The case was classified under South Korean law as both 'aggravated rape," due to the involvement of multiple perpetrators, and 'quasi rape," since the victim was unconscious and unable to resist. All three men pleaded guilty to the charges last month.
While prosecutors had requested a seven-year prison term, the court chose to reduce the sentence, citing the defendants' lack of prior criminal records. The judge nonetheless described the crime as 'extremely grave," per a report by BBC News.
Taeil debuted in 2016 as part of NCT U, the first subunit of the boy group project under SM Entertainment. He later became a key member of NCT 127, contributing to the group's experimental sound and global recognition.
His career came to a sudden halt in August 2024 when he exited NCT amid emerging allegations. At the time, SM Entertainment terminated his contract, though the specific charges were not made public.
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
China's "CEO Monk" Of Famous Shaolin Temple Under Probe For Embezzling Funds
Beijing: China's famous Shaolin Temple announced on Sunday that its abbot is under investigation on suspicion of misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets. Shi Yongxin is alleged to have committed criminal offenses and violated Buddhist precepts by maintaining relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering at least one child, according to a notice from the temple's authority on its WeChat account. The notice said a joint investigation was being carried out by multiple departments and its findings would be announced in due course. The fame of the Shaolin Temple, based in the central Chinese province of Henan, has gone beyond a religious institution. It is also renowned for its martial arts culture, or kung fu, which has been referenced in many movies and TV dramas, including the 1982 film "The Shaolin Temple," starring martial arts superstar Jet Li. Local media reported that Shi Yongxin, whose original name is Liu Yingcheng, had faced accusations in the past, including claims that he fathered several children and embezzled money. Provincial investigation reports exonerated him of all charges in 2016, according to the Caixin Global news outlet. Shi Yongxin entered the Shaolin Temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999, according to the temple's website. China's state news agency Xinhua reported in 2015 that he was known as a "CEO monk," attracting criticism for developing commercial operations to promote kung fu shows and merchandise. Earlier on Sunday, Chinese local media outlets reported that authorities had dismissed as fake an online notice claiming Shi Yongxin was intercepted by authorities while trying to flee to the U.S. with a number of mistresses and some 20 children.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kung fu birthplace under embezzlement probe: Head of China's Shaolin Temple accused of improper relationships with women
Chinese authorities have launched a multi-agency probe into Shi Yongxin, the influential abbot of the popular Shaolin Temple, over allegations of embezzlement and other serious misconduct, the temple said. The establishment is revered globally as the birthplace of kung fu and Zen Buddhism. Multiple agencies investigating Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin for alleged misconduct(File Photo/AP) The Shaolin Temple, located in central Henan province, issued a statement on its official WeChat account on Sunday, stating that Shi Yongxin is suspected of 'embezzling project funds and temple assets,' news agency AFP reported. The statement added that the abbot, popularly dubbed the 'CEO monk' for overseeing a network of commercial ventures at home and abroad, had 'seriously violated Buddhist precepts,' including allegedly engaging in 'improper relationships' with multiple women. 'Multiple departments' are involved in the investigation, the temple added. Past controversies of Shi Yongxin The 59-year-old has previously faced similar allegations in 2015, including misusing temple-run finances, owning a fleet of luxury cars, and fathering children. At that time, the temple had dismissed those accusations as 'vicious libel.' Despite denials, the current investigation appears more serious, with formal involvement of state authorities. In China, religious leadership is subject to government approval, and evidence of 'improper' behavior can lead to removal from official posts. The latest investigation has garnered a lot of eyeballs and public interest as a hashtag related to the Shaolin Temple scandal had garnered over 560 million views on Chinese social media platform Weibo, as of Monday morning. The abbot's last post on his personal Weibo account read: 'When one's own nature is pure, the pure land is here in the present.' Rise of the 'CEO monk' Shi Yongxin became the abbot of Shaolin Temple in 1999 and spearheaded the global promotion of Shaolin culture, founding dozens of businesses and cultural initiatives abroad. His efforts earned him criticism for allegedly commercialising Buddhism. Established in AD 495, the Shaolin Temple is considered one of China's most sacred religious institutions. Shi was elected vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China in 2002 and has served as a representative to the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body. (With AFP inputs)
Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
China Probes Celebrity Monk for Embezzlement, Sex Misconduct
China has accused the former head monk of its most famous Buddhist temple of embezzling funds and sexual misconduct, beginning a new investigation more than a decade after similar allegations surfaced. Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple until he lost his ordination, is under probe for allegedly misappropriating temple assets, the 1,500-year-old monastery said in a notice on its official WeChat account on Sunday. The institution also accused Yongxin of violating Buddhist precepts by having long-term relationships with several women and fathering illegitimate children. The announcement raises questions about timing that have dominated Chinese social media. Many users wondered why authorities acted now, nearly a decade after disciples first publicly accused Yongxin of similar behavior in 2015. Yongxin, the dharma name he is known as, emerged largely unscathed from allegations at the time including of rape, embezzlement and fathering children. Henan provincial authorities cleared him of a claim of having an illegitimate daughter that year and accusations of financial wrongdoing in 2017, citing insufficient evidence. 'This time I wasn't surprised he did such things, but surprised by what changed that he can't escape scot-free like before,' one user wrote on Weibo, capturing widespread sentiment. Bloomberg News is unable to reach Yongxin. The Shaolin Temple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The China Buddhist Association moved swiftly to distance itself from Yongxin, announcing Monday it had canceled his ordination certificate. The association said it received a report from Henan provincial Buddhist authorities recommending the action. 'Shi Yongxin's actions are extremely egregious and have seriously damaged the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks,' the association said in a statement. The organization expressed 'firm support' for legal action against him. Yongxin, born Liu Yingcheng, was widely credited for establishing the temple, the subject of the 1982 blockbuster The Shaolin Temple, as the preeminent monastery in China and making it a commercial success. He had argued that the preservation and spread of authentic Shaolin culture requires that monks be engaged in the secular world. With assistance from Qianwei Zhang. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
