The Songpa Police Station in Seoul booked a Japanese woman in her 50s for sexual harassment after she kissed BTS member Jin during a fan event in June last year.
The woman is accused of kissing Jin on the cheek at the fan hug event "Jin's Greetings" held at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Songpa-gu on June 13 last year, a day after Jin was discharged from the military.
During the event, Jin gave hugs to 1,000 fans who won in a raffle.
Jin at the hug event in June last year (Screenshots from @koinzz2528's video on YouTube)
The kissing incident spread online, sparking sexual harassment controversy, Korean media reported.
A video showed two women kissing Jin on the neck.
A complaint was filed with the Songpa Police Station requesting that "the fans who sexually harassed Jin be investigated for violating Korea’s Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and the police started their investigation.
Article 11 of the law states that “a person who commits an indecent act on another person in any public transportation vehicle, public performance or assembly place, or other crowded public place shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine not exceeding three million won [about $2,055].”
During the investigation, the police confirmed a post on a Japanese blog stating, "My lips touched his neck. His skin was soft," and reported it to the Interpol in Japan.
The police requested international cooperation in the investigation and identified the suspect after about seven months.
The Korean police requested the woman, who currently resides in Japan, to appear in court early this month, but she has reportedly not yet given a definite answer.
The police are said to be considering summoning Jin to give a statement as a victim in the incident.
In June last year, fans sent a letter to Big Hit Music about the incident.
“During the hug event on June 13th, an individual attempted to kiss Jin on the neck without his consent. This inappropriate behavior not only violated Jin's personal boundaries but also created a potential security risk,” according to the letter.
They requested the agency to “investigate the incident thoroughly to identify the individual involved, blacklist this individual from all future events to ensure the safety and comfort of BTS members, review and enhance security measures at all future events to prevent similar incidents.”