A recent fan event held by BTS's Jin has sparked significant controversy, leading to potential legal actions against a few fans. The event, which was meant to celebrate Jin's return from mandatory military service, saw some fans crossing the line, resulting in charges of sexual harassment.
On June 13, Jin held a free hug event for ARMY-the dedicated fanbase of BTS-at the Seoul Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium. The event was intended as a heartfelt gesture from Jin to his fans, offering them a moment of personal interaction. Most of the 1,000 invited fans respectfully embraced Jin and left, but a few fans attempted to kiss him on the cheek. These attempts, captured on camera, have ignited a wave of anger among fans and led to serious accusations.
The following day, Seoul's Songpa Police Station announced that a report had been filed against the fans who tried to kiss Jin. The complaint, filed through the National Petition Platform, accuses the fans of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. The police are currently reviewing the contents of the report to decide whether a formal investigation is warranted.
A fan, referred to as 'A', expressed their frustration and anger in an online fan community forum, stating, "In the middle of Jin's offline fan meeting with 1,000 fans in celebration of his military discharge, it was reported that some fans attempted sexual harassment. This angered me as a fan who enjoys BTS' music. The fans who sexually harassed Jin should be immediately investigated and punished under Article 11 of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act for 'molestation in a crowded place.'"
she kissed him pic.twitter.com/w9iK6pljhS — Seokjinism - THE ASTRONAUT JIN (Fan Account) (@seokjinism1) June 13, 2024
The incident has sparked a significant online debate, with many netizens condemning the actions of the fans involved. Comments such as "This meaningful event got trashed," "That's sexual harassment, period," and "They crossed the line" have been prevalent on social media platforms, reflecting widespread disapproval of the inappropriate behavior.
they said she didn't kiss jin, the girl was just whispering to jin. suddenly, jin turned his head, and it looked like his face was close to the girl's lips pic.twitter.com/xkonVX0TK9 — izy (@_thvgsv) June 13, 2024
On June 14, the Seoul Songpa Police Department confirmed receiving the report and stated that they are considering whether the incident warrants a full investigation. A police official noted, "We received the complaint through the National Petition System, but we have not received a formal complaint. We have not booked the suspect yet." This suggests that while the complaint is being taken seriously, further steps are required to advance the investigation.
During the event, Jin was seen visibly flustered by the unwanted advances, quickly turning his face away as fans attempted to kiss him. These moments, captured in photos and videos, have circulated widely online, drawing both sympathy for Jin and outrage towards the offending fans.
The incident at Jin's hug event is not an isolated issue. It highlights the ongoing struggle between fans' desire for closeness and the need to respect personal boundaries. Such events are meant to foster positive and respectful interactions, but as seen in this case, can sometimes lead to uncomfortable and inappropriate situations.
This is not the first time a member of BTS has faced overzealous behavior from fans. The group's immense global popularity often places its members in situations where their personal space and privacy are compromised. Incidents like these prompt calls for better security measures at fan events and a reminder for fans to maintain respectful conduct.
