A Japanese woman is facing potential harassment charges after allegedly kissing BTS member Jin without consent during a fan event last year, South Korean authorities confirmed Friday to AP.
The incident occurred at Jin’s celebratory free hug event in Seoul, which the 32-year-old K-pop star held in June 2024 to mark both his completion of mandatory military service and BTS’s 11-year anniversary. According to police at Seoul’s Songpa station, the woman has been summoned for questioning following an online complaint.
Video footage that went viral shows Jin appearing visibly uncomfortable after the woman, who is reportedly in her 50s, abruptly kissed him on the cheek during the event, which drew approximately 1,000 fans.
BTS, formed in 2013, commands a massive global fanbase known collectively as “Army.”
South Korean authorities reportedly identified the woman with assistance from Japanese police, though she is allegedly refusing to appear for questioning. Law enforcement has declined to reveal her identity, citing privacy concerns.
The woman later detailed the encounter in an online blog post, writing, “My lips touched his neck. His skin was so soft,” according to Yonhap news agency. “Investigators are reportedly considering calling in Jin to provide a statement as the victim in the case,” Yonhap added.
Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, completed his 18-month military service just one day before the incident. As the oldest member of BTS, he was the first to enlist under South Korea’s mandatory service requirements.
Another BTS member, Suga, was in the news last year after being caught violating traffic rules when he rode an electric scooter while drunk in South Korea. He later issued a formal apology.
