South Korean police announced on Friday that they were summoning a Japanese woman for questioning over allegations that she kissed Jin, a member of K-pop group BTS, without his consent during a public event last year.
An officer at Seoul’s Songpa police station confirmed that the woman has been asked to appear for questioning regarding an allegation of sexual harassment, news agency Associated Press reported. However, the police did not disclose her identity, citing privacy concerns.
The investigation began after police received an online complaint.
Media reports stated that South Korean authorities identified the woman with assistance from Japanese police. According to the reports, the woman, who is in her 50s, has refused to appear for questioning.
Jin, whose full name is Kim Seok-jin, completed his mandatory 18-month military service in June 2024. The following day, he marked his discharge and BTS’s 11-year anniversary by organizing a free hug event in Seoul. Around 1,000 fans attended the event. During the gathering, a woman unexpectedly kissed Jin on his cheek. A widely shared video showed Jin appearing uncomfortable.
According to Yonhap news agency, the woman later wrote in a blog post, “My lips touched his neck. His skin was so soft.”
Police identified the woman with assistance from the Japanese police after receiving a complaint from a netizen and booked her last month.
BTS was formed in 2013 and has a large international fanbase known as the “Army.” Jin, who is 32 years old, is the group’s eldest member.
