Despite Reportedly Writing 7 Apology Letters, Taeil Loses Appeal Trial, Original Sentencing Upheld

Taeil’s final sentencing for his sexual crimes has been finalized.

On October 17, The court sentenced Taeil and three others, who were indicted on charges of quasi-rape under the Act on the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Violence, to three years and six months in prison. They stated, “It is difficult to see that the original sentence for the defendants was too light or too heavy, or that the discretion of the court exceeded a reasonable range,” and thus dismissed both the defendants’ and the prosecution’s appeals.

Last June, Taeil, along with two acquaintances, was booked by the police for allegedly taking a foreign woman, whom they had been drinking with in Itaewon, Seoul, to the residence of one of the defendants and committing gang sexual assault. At the time, his agency, SM Entertainment, officially announced Taeil’s departure from the team, stating, “We recognize the severity of the matter and have determined that team activities can no longer continue.”

In the first trial, in July of this year, the court sentenced Taeil and the other two defendants to three years and six months in prison. The court also ordered 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and a five-year employment restriction at child- and youth-related institutions. Given the real prison sentence, the court issued an arrest warrant due to concerns of flight risk, and Taeil was detained in court.

Both Taeil’s side and the prosecution filed appeals, claiming that the sentencing was inappropriate. At last month’s sentencing hearing, Taeil’s side pleaded for leniency, while the prosecution requested seven years in prison, arguing that the defendants’ actions were particularly serious and that the original judgment was overly lenient.

Ahead of this sentencing, it was reported that Taeil submitted seven letters of apology.

Source: (A)