Japanese Woman Who Kissed BTS Jin Without Consent Skips First Court Appearance

More than a year after a moment that stopped an entire fan event and spread across social media within hours, the legal case surrounding BTS Jin's alleged assault is still waiting to begin in earnest.

On July 14, Seoul Eastern District Court Judge Lee Ji-min convened the first formal trial hearing against a Japanese woman in her 50s, identified only as M, who faces charges of forced indecent acts. M did not appear in court. The judge noted that a written document had arrived from the defendant by post, but said its meaning was unclear. The hearing was adjourned, with a new date set for July 16 at 11 a.m.

The incident at the center of the case took place on June 13, 2024, the day after Jin completed his mandatory military service. He was attending a hug event with approximately 1,000 fans at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul's Songpa district when M allegedly kissed him on the cheek without warning. Video of the moment showed Jin's expression shift into visible discomfort, and the clip spread quickly online. Internet users filed a complaint against M, setting the investigation in motion.

Tracking down the suspect proved difficult. Police worked with Interpol to identify M but initially suspended the investigation in March 2025, citing the expected length of time needed to locate and question a foreign national. M then entered South Korea voluntarily and presented herself to authorities. Police forwarded her case to prosecutors in May 2025, and she was formally indicted in November of that year.

For foreign defendants, courts typically schedule the first hearing roughly six months after indictment, which accounts for the gap between M's November charge and the July 14 court date. That hearing, when it finally arrived, produced nothing: no plea, no statement the court could parse, and no defendant in the room.

The case drew attention not only because of Jin's profile as a member of BTS but because the incident occurred at a carefully organized fan meeting designed to celebrate his return from military service. The next hearing on July 16 will determine whether proceedings can finally move forward.