Japanese Woman Under Police Investigation for Forcibly Kissing BTS's Jin

A Japanese woman has been placed under police investigation for allegedly harassing BTS member Jin (Kim Seok-jin) by kissing him without consent at a fan event in 2024.

On February 27, Seoul’s Songpa Police Station announced that they had booked a Japanese woman in her 50s, identified only as "A" to protect privacy, on charges of harassment in a public place under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. Authorities have requested her presence for questioning.

The incident occurred on June 13 last year at the 2024 FESTA event, held at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. The event featured a “hug session” where Jin embraced approximately 1,000 fans over the course of three hours. This marked his first public appearance since completing his mandatory military service the day before and was part of BTS’s 11th debut anniversary celebrations.

During the event, A reportedly kissed Jin on the cheek without warning, sparking a wave of controversy. Photos and videos captured Jin visibly flustered and uncomfortable in response to the unexpected act.

A later wrote on her blog, "My lips touched his neck. His skin was incredibly soft," further fueling backlash.

The case was brought to police attention after a citizen filed a complaint via the government’s online petition system. Authorities, working in cooperation with Interpol Japan, identified A and officially booked her last month. However, she has yet to comply with the police’s request to appear for questioning.

Police are also considering interviewing Jin as part of the investigation in his capacity as the victim.