Japanese woman faces legal action for kissing BTS's Jin
28 Feb 2025

South Korean authorities have summoned a Japanese woman in her 50s for questioning over allegations that she kissed Kim Seok-jin aka Jin—a member of K-pop sensation BTS—without his consent.

The incident took place during a free hug event in Seoul last year, organized by Jin to celebrate his discharge from mandatory military service and the band's 11th anniversary.

The police are investigating this case as potential sexual harassment.

Incident details: Woman kissed Jin during a free hug event
Incident unfolded

The incident occurred at an event attended by some 1,000 fans. A video that subsequently went viral showed a woman suddenly kissing Jin on his cheek, instead of just hugging him.

Visibly left uncomfortable, Jin responded by turning his face away.

After the event, the woman recounted her experience in an online blog post, saying, "My lips touched his neck. His skin was so soft," per Yonhap news agency's report.

Investigation underway: Police confirmed woman's identity
Investigation progress

The kissing incident sparked outrage among the ARMYs (BTS's fandom name), prompting one fan to file a criminal complaint.

The matter has since been taken up for investigation by the Seoul Songpa police station.

The woman's identity was confirmed with the help of Japanese authorities but has not been made public due to privacy concerns.

Despite being summoned for questioning, reports suggest the woman is currently refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

Jin's military service and BTS's global fandom
About Jin

To note, Jin, the oldest member of BTS at 32, had just completed his compulsory 18-month military service on June 13, a day before the incident.

He was the first member of the globally renowned group to complete his military service, followed by J-Hope, who was discharged in October.

The remaining five members—V, RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and Suga—are still serving, with the band expected to reunite in June 2025.