Former NCT Member Taeil Sentenced to 3.5 Years as Supreme Court Rejects Appeal

The legal battle has reached its somber conclusion. Taeil, a former member of the global K-pop phenomenon NCT, will serve a prison term following a definitive ruling by the Supreme Court of South Korea.

Supreme Court Upholds Prison Sentence

According to judicial reports, the Supreme Court has officially upheld the lower court's sentence of 3 years and 6 months in prison for Taeil. He was found guilty of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The court dismissed the appeals from both Taeil and his two co-defendants, finalizing the verdict that was first handed down in July. The justices emphasized that the gravity of the assault warranted no leniency.

Industry Reaction and Consequences

The fallout from the case was immediate. SM Entertainment severed all ties with the artist shortly after the allegations became public. For global fans, especially NCTzens, the ruling brings a painful but necessary closure to a scandal that shook the K-pop industry. This case serves as a stark reminder that stardom offers no immunity from the law, especially regarding severe human rights violations.