South Korean police are investigating a Japanese woman who kissed BTS’s Jin without his consent at a fan event. Since she is currently in Japan, authorities have urged her to come forward for questioning. They are treating the case as sexual harassment in a public space.
The Incident at Jin’s Fan Event
The incident took place in June 2024 during Jin’s first public event after completing his military service. At the event, he hugged 1,000 fans and performed for 3,000 others. As fans took turns meeting him, most followed the rules. However, one woman shocked everyone when she suddenly kissed his face instead of just hugging him.
As a result, Jin quickly turned his head away and moved on to the next fan. Shortly after, videos of the moment spread rapidly online. Many fans expressed outrage, and one even filed a complaint, prompting police to launch an investigation.
Public Outrage and Police Response
Following the backlash, the woman later wrote on her blog that she kissed Jin “on his neck” and described his skin as “very soft.” Because of this, fans grew even more frustrated. Although her identity has not been revealed, police confirmed they identified her with the help of Japanese authorities.
Meanwhile, the BBC reached out to BTS’s agency, HYBE, for a statement.
BTS Members and Growing Concerns Over Fan Behavior
Jin was the first BTS member to complete his military service, followed by J-Hope in October. Currently, the remaining four—V, RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and Suga—are still serving. As a result, BTS is expected to reunite in June 2025.
While K-pop idols often engage with fans through social media and in-person events, issues related to toxic fan culture are becoming more common. Many idols have openly discussed the stress caused by obsessive “sasaeng fans” who repeatedly invade their privacy.
