South Korean police announced on Friday that they are summoning a Japanese woman for questioning regarding an alleged incident where she kissed Jin, a member of the K-pop group BTS, without his consent during a free hug event last year.
The Songpa police station in Seoul confirmed it had requested the woman’s appearance for questioning regarding an accusation of sexual harassment. However, the police did not reveal her identity due to privacy concerns.
The police station started its investigation after receiving an online complaint and declined to provide additional information as the investigation is still ongoing.
Reports indicate that South Korean authorities were able to identify the woman with the assistance of Japanese police. It was also mentioned that the woman, who is in her 50s, is refusing to cooperate with the questioning.
Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, had just completed his mandatory 18-month military service in June 2024. To celebrate his discharge and BTS’s 11th anniversary, he held a free hug event in Seoul, which attracted around 1,000 people. During the event, the woman unexpectedly kissed Jin on the cheek, with viral footage showing the artist visibly uncomfortable.
The woman stated in an online blog post that her lips made contact with Jin’s neck, describing his skin as “so soft.”
HYBE, the management company for BTS, did not immediately respond to a request for comment via email.
BTS, formed in 2013, has a massive global fan base known as the “Army.” Jin, 32, is the oldest member of the group. He was the first to begin his mandatory military service in December 2022, followed by the other six members, who have started their service one by one. The group is expected to reunite later this year.