SK police summon BTS fan for stolen kiss from Jin

KimSeok-jin —AP

SEOUL—South Korean police said on Friday they are summoning for questioning a Japanese woman over allegedly kissing Jin, a member of K-pop supergroup BTS, without consent during a free hug event last year.

A police officer who answered the phone at Seoul’s Songpa station said it requested the woman to respond to an allegation of sexual harassment.

The police station, which refused to disclose the woman’s identity for reasons of privacy, said it had launched an investigation after receiving an online complaint, but refused to provide further details since an investigation was underway.

Media reports said South Korean police were able to confirm the identity of the woman with the help of their Japanese counterpart, adding that the woman, who is in her 50s, refused to appear for questioning.

‘Soft skin’

A day after finishing his mandatory 18-month military service in June 2024, Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin, celebrated his discharge and the band’s 11-year anniversary by offering free hugs to fans at an event in Seoul.

During the event, reportedly attended by 1,000 people, the woman abruptly kissed Jin on his cheek. Video footage that went viral showed the pop star apparently looking uncomfortable.

According to Yonhap news agency, the woman wrote in an online blog post that “My lips touched his neck. His skin was so soft.”

BTS was created in 2013 and has a legion of global supporters who call themselves the “Army.” Jin, 32, is the oldest member of the band.