Japanese woman investigated for sexual harassment after kissing Jin at hug event

Jin (Big Hit Music)

South Korea's police officially charged a Japanese woman on charges of sexual harassment after she forcibly kissed BTS member Jin on the cheek last year.

Seoul Songpa Police Station announced that they have booked the woman, who is in her 50s, on charges of sexual harassment and have requested her to appear for questioning.

The incident occurred on June 13, 2024, a day after Jin completed his mandatory military service, during a fan hug event held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The woman, who was among the 1,000 fans attending, suddenly kissed Jin on the cheek. Photos and videos of Jin looking visibly uncomfortable and surprised quickly spread across social media, leading to widespread criticism of the woman’s actions as sexual harassment.

At the time, a blog post allegedly written by the woman circulated online. In the post, the author, who identified herself as a Japanese fan, described the moment, saying, “My lips touched his neck, his skin was incredibly soft.”

Following the incident, fans filed a complaint through the national petition system e-People, prompting the police to launch an investigation. The police identified the woman with Interpol Japan's cooperation. While police have requested her appearance for questioning, she has not complied. They are also considering questioning Jin as a victim if necessary.