A man identified as a relative of a “famous girl group” member has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, but it is the unnamed idol — not the suspect — who is now at the center of an online guessing game.
According to a report by Channel A on April 16, police in Seoul’s Gangnam district arrested a man in his 30s on April 15 after responding to a complaint filed by a livestreaming content creator.
The suspect is known only by his surname Kim, but reports that he is related to a member of a well-known K-pop girl group quickly fueled speculation across social media.
Police said the man is accused of taking the woman to his home and attempting to sexually assault her. The two reportedly met after he paid for a “meal date ticket,” a controversial practice in Korea’s livestreaming scene where viewers can pay to meet streamers in person.
The woman said he promised not to engage in any sexual contact before bringing her to his home, but later attempted to assault her. Police responded after receiving a report from an acquaintance contacted by the woman, who had fled to a bathroom, and arrested the man at the scene.
The suspect admitted to physical contact but denied that it was forced, according to the report.
Police said they are continuing their investigation and will consider whether to revise the charges or seek an arrest warrant after further questioning.
As news of the case spread, attention quickly shifted away from the allegations themselves to the identity of the idol connected to the suspect. Despite no confirmation of what the relationship is, online communities and social media platforms have been flooded with speculation.
Comments such as “Is it really her brother?” and “I’m disappointed in (idol name)” have circulated widely, with some users even posting photos of female idols they believe could be related — intensifying concerns over defamation and secondary harm.
The situation escalated further after reports revealed the suspect’s surname as Kim, prompting some users to name girl group members with the same surname. Others, however, pushed back against the speculation.
Source: Korea Times News
