South Korean police are investigating a young Japanese girl who kissed BTS’s Jin during a fan event in Seoul, sparking backlash among the K-pop community.
The incident occurred a day after Jin’s discharge from military service, during his first public fan meeting where he hugged 1,000 fans. While greeting fans, the girl kissed Jin’s face without consent, leaving the artist visibly uncomfortable as he turned away.
The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral, prompting outrage from fans. A formal criminal complaint filed by a fan led authorities to open an investigation. South Korean police, with assistance from Japanese officials, have identified the woman and requested her return to South Korea for questioning.
The woman later admitted to the act on her blog, writing that she had kissed Jin’s neck and described his skin as “very soft.”
BTS’s agency, HYBE, has yet to comment on the matter.
Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, is the first BTS member to complete military service. He was followed by J-Hope in October, while the remaining members—V, RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and Suga—are expected to reunite in June 2025 once their service ends.
