A Japanese lady who unexpectedly kissed Okay-pop boy band BTS’s Jin at a fan occasion final yr has discovered herself beneath investigation by South Korean police.
South Korean police have known as for the girl – who’s at present in Japan – to return ahead for questioning on expenses of sexual harrassment in a public house.
The incident occurred through the Okay-pop idol’s first public occasion in Seoul final June which noticed him hug 1,000 followers. As a substitute of simply hugging the star, the girl appeared to have kissed his face, with Jin responding by turning his face away.
The kiss angered different BTS followers, one among whom filed a prison criticism in opposition to her, main police to launch an investigation.
On 13 June, 2024, the day after he was discharged from the military, Jin, whose actual identify is Kim Seok-jin, held a fan occasion the place he hugged 1,000 followers and carried out songs in entrance of three,000 others.
In the course of the three-hour lengthy “hugathon”, followers who gained the prospect to embrace him queued up and went on stage one after the other to fulfill the 33-year-old star.
However one among them brought on an uproar when she appeared to kiss Jin’s face.
Clips of the second went viral on the web. Movies present that Jin, bowled over by the transfer, tried to show his head whereas hugging the girl earlier than rapidly shifting on to the following fan. Followers may be seen reacting angrily to her actions.
She later wrote on her weblog later that she kissed him “on his neck” and “the pores and skin was very comfortable”.
The girl’s id has not been revealed however police added that they’d recognized her with the help from their Japanese counterparts.
The BBC has reached out to BTS’ company HYBE for remark.
Jin is the primary BTS member to have been discharged from navy obligation. He was adopted by J-Hope who was discharged in October. The opposite 4 – V, RM, Jimin, Jungkook and Suga – are nonetheless serving and the band is anticipated to reunite solely in June 2025.
Okay-pop idols are recognized for having a detailed relationship with their fanbases by varied communication channels and occasions. It is common for artists to speak with followers by social media livestream chats and in-person occasions to domesticate loyal followers.
However followers and businesses have more and more been conscious of some poisonous fan cultures as effectively. For instance, many artists have been vocal in regards to the stress attributable to “sasaeng followers”, who’re overly obsessive about their idols that might stalk and harass the artists.
