Japanese woman who forcibly kissed BTS Jin indicted without detention

BTS member Jin / Yonhap

A Japanese woman in her 50s has been indicted without detention for forcing a kiss on Jin of BTS during a public fan event last year.

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office said that the suspect was charged Monday with indecent assault.

She is accused of approaching Jin, real name Kim Seok-jin, during a fan meeting held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul’s Songpa District in June last year, shortly after he completed his military service. She forced a kiss on Jin’s cheek without consent.

Following the incident, several fans filed complaints through the National Petition System, accusing her of committing indecent acts in a crowded public space.

Songpa Police launched an investigation but initially suspended it in March, citing delays and the suspect’s failure to appear.

However, she later voluntarily appeared for questioning. Police determined that the allegations were substantiated and forwarded the case to prosecutors.

BTS member Jin is kissed by a woman during a fan hug event at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on June 13, 2024. Captured from X

Jin, the oldest member of BTS, was discharged from the military in June 2024 and has since resumed public activities, including fan events and promotions. Neither Jin nor his agency has publicly commented on the case.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.