The first court hearing for a Japanese woman in her 50s, identified only as A, has been postponed after she did not appear in court.
A was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss BTS member Jin without his consent during a fan event in Seoul.
According to legal sources, the hearing was scheduled to take place at the Seoul Eastern District Court on July 14. However, the court moved it to July 16 after A failed to attend.
The court had appointed an interpreter for A, who is a Japanese citizen, ahead of the hearing.
A previously submitted a written objection concerning the way the court proceedings were being handled and reserved her legal rights. The specific reasons behind the filing have not been made public.
It remains unclear whether the objection will affect the case or whether A will attend the rescheduled hearing.
The incident reportedly happened during Jin’s “Free Hug” event at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on June 13, 2024. A is accused of attempting to kiss Jin on the cheek while hugging him. Jin was seen turning away and appearing surprised.
A later reportedly wrote on social media, “My lips touched Jin’s neck. His skin was very soft”.
Following the event, fans filed complaints through South Korea’s official public petition system and asked police to investigate the incident.
Police initially requested that A appear for questioning but later temporarily suspended the investigation because it was expected to take a long time. The case resumed after A entered South Korea and voluntarily attended questioning.
Police later sent the case to prosecutors after deciding there were grounds to pursue an indecent assault charge.
A reportedly argued that she believed the incident was only light physical contact with a celebrity and claimed she had no criminal intention. Prosecutors, however, decided to move forward after considering the alleged contact without Jin’s consent, as well as her reported actions and comments afterward.
Speaking to Japan’s TBS News about the indictment, A said, “I feel upset and wronged. I never thought this would be considered a crime”.
The allegations have not yet been decided by the court, and the legal proceedings remain ongoing.
