"Skin was so soft.." Japanese woman accused of forcibly assaulting BTS Jin skips first court hearing [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

• First trial postponed to the 16th

The first trial for a 50-year-old Japanese woman, identified as A, who was indicted on charges of forcibly kissing BTS member Jin during an "ambush kiss," has been postponed.

According to legal sources on the 14th, A's first trial, which was scheduled to be held before Seoul Dongbu District Court Criminal Division 9 as a single-judge proceeding, has been rescheduled to the 16th.

The court had designated an interpreter for A, who holds Japanese citizenship, on the 19th of last month and planned to proceed with her first trial on the 14th; however, the date was changed after A failed to appear in court.

Previously, on the 1st of last month, A submitted a notice of objection and reservation of rights regarding the conduct of the trial proceedings to the court. It appears she raised an objection due to perceived issues with the current trial procedure. However, the specific reasons behind her submission remain unknown.

Attention is now focused on how A's objection may affect future proceedings and whether she will appear at the first trial scheduled for the 16th.

A is accused of forcibly attempting to kiss Jin on the cheek while hugging him during a fan meeting event titled "Free Hug" held on June 13, 2024, at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul Songpa-gu, attended by approximately 100 fans. At the time, Jin immediately turned away and appeared flustered.

Subsequently, A posted on her social media account stating, "My lips touched Jin's neck. His skin was so soft." Fans who witnessed the incident filed a complaint with the National Ombudsman Office, requesting an investigation into A for indecent acts in a crowded public space.

Upon receiving the case, Seoul Songpa Police Station opened an investigation file and summoned A for questioning but decided to suspend the investigation in March, anticipating that it would take considerable time to complete.

However, after A entered the country and voluntarily appeared before police for questioning, investigators concluded that there was sufficient evidence of forcible assault and transferred the case to the Prosecution Service.

The Prosecution Service argued that A believed her actions were merely light physical contact with a celebrity and lacked criminal intent; however, it determined that the charges were valid considering she made physical contact regardless of the victim's consent, along with her post-incident behavior and statements.

Following this, A told Japanese TBS News regarding her indictment: "I am upset (or indignant). I never thought this would be considered a crime," expressing her sense of injustice.

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*This content was translated by AI.