Japanese Woman in Her 50s Referred to Prosecutors for Unwanted Kiss on BTS’ Jin

On May 8, the Seoul Songpa Police Station announced that the woman, identified as “A,” has been formally sent to the prosecution on charges of indecent act by compulsion in a public place under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

According to authorities, A recently voluntarily entered South Korea and appeared for questioning after being the subject of an international investigation.

The incident occurred on June 13, 2023, during Jin’s post-military discharge event—a “hug meeting” held at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul for 1,000 fans. During the event, a woman was seen on video attempting to kiss Jin on the face. The footage quickly spread online, sparking public backlash and concern over idol safety.

Screenshots of a blog post—allegedly written by the same woman—also circulated on social media. In the post, the writer, identifying as a Japanese fan, claimed, “My lips touched his neck. His skin was incredibly soft.”

Following the online outcry, a citizen complaint was filed via the National Petition System, urging police to investigate the matter as a sexual offense. The police launched a preliminary investigation and, in July 2023, requested cooperation from Interpol Japan to locate the suspect.

The woman was officially booked in January 2024, but when she failed to appear for questioning, the case was temporarily suspended in March due to the difficulty of continuing the investigation while she remained overseas.

Under Korean law, if a suspect is out of reach due to long-term overseas residence or unclear whereabouts, authorities may pause investigations until those conditions are resolved. Now that the woman has returned and complied with questioning, the case has moved forward.

TIMELINE SUMMARY: BTS Jin Fan Incident

June 13, 2023: Jin holds a fan hug event at Jamsil Indoor Stadium after his military discharge. A video circulates online of a woman attempting to kiss him.

June 2023: Blog post allegedly from the woman surfaces, describing her physical contact with Jin (“my lips touched his neck”).

July 2023: A formal complaint is filed through Korea’s national petition system. Police open a preliminary investigation.

July 2023: Korean police request international cooperation via Interpol Japan.

January 2024: Woman is officially booked, but remains overseas. Police suspend investigation in March due to her unavailability.

Early May 2024: The woman voluntarily enters South Korea and complies with police questioning.

May 8, 2024: Seoul Songpa Police formally refer her to prosecution under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

This incident reignites ongoing discussions in the K-pop industry regarding idol safety at fan events. While “fan service” is a well-known part of K-pop culture—such as handshakes, hugs, and selfies—there is growing concern about boundaries being crossed, especially in high-touch environments.

Agencies and event organizers are now under increased pressure to:

Screen attendees more thoroughly

Enforce clear behavior guidelines

Provide idols with better physical protection during fan interactions

As the global K-pop fandom grows, this case may serve as a turning point in how fan culture is policed and how artists are protected in intimate settings.

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