BTS Jin's fan kiss trial postponed after suspect doesn't show in court

The trial of a woman charged with forcibly kissing BTS member Jin was postponed on Tuesday after she failed to appear in court.

The Seoul Eastern District Court opened the first hearing for the woman, a Japanese national facing charges of forcible indecency, but could not proceed with the case due to her absence.

“The defendant submitted a document by mail, but I am not sure exactly what it means,” the presiding judge said. “Since there is another hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. on [Thursday], I will postpone today’s session.”

The woman is accused of kissing Jin during a fan event — in which 1,000 fans were invited to hug the artist — at Jamsil Arena in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on June 13, 2024, one day after Jin completed his mandatory military service.

After the encounter, the singer appeared visibly flustered, and the woman’s behavior sparked controversy due to her alleged sexual misconduct.

She subsequently posted about the experience on her blog, writing, “My lips touched his neck. His skin was so soft.” 

Following reports, the police identified the suspect through cooperation with Interpol but decided in March 2025 to suspend the investigation, judging that further questioning would take considerable time. After the woman entered Korea and voluntarily appeared before officials, police referred the case to prosecutors in May of last year, and prosecutors indicted her that November.

Trial dates for foreign national defendants are typically set around six months after indictment to allow for preparation.

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]