Japanese Woman Who Kissed BTS’s Jin During Fan Event Referred to Prosecutors
A Japanese woman in her 50s has been referred to South Korean prosecutors after kissing BTS’s Jin without consent during a fan event in 2023.
According to the Seoul Songpa Police on May 8, the woman—identified only as “A”—was sent to the prosecution on charges of indecent assault in a public place under South Korea’s Sexual Violence Punishment Act. Authorities confirmed that she voluntarily returned to Korea and appeared before police for investigation.
The incident occurred in June 2023 at a fan event called Jin’s Greetings, where approximately 1,000 fans participated in a hug session with the BTS member. During the event, the woman suddenly kissed Jin on the cheek, leaving him visibly startled. The moment, captured and widely shared online, sparked immediate public backlash and calls for legal action.
The following day, a formal complaint was filed through South Korea’s public petition portal, demanding legal consequences for the woman’s behavior. Investigators discovered a post on a Japanese blog where the author described the kiss in detail, including statements like “her lips touched his neck” and “his skin was soft.” This led police to request cooperation from Interpol Japan and, after seven months, they successfully identified the suspect.
Although the police had initially halted the investigation in March due to the woman residing overseas, they resumed proceedings once she returned to Korea and voluntarily reported herself.
Meanwhile, another woman (B) involved in a similar non-consensual act with Jin remains untraceable. Her case is currently suspended due to lack of progress.
The case has reignited discussions about boundaries at fan events and the need for stronger protections for public figures in such spaces.
