BTS’ Jin to hug 1000 fans at FESTA, addresses controversy around hug event: ‘It was my idea’

He said, “I need to talk about FESTA. I gave a good idea, but it received a lot of criticism. I took a look at it so let me try to explain. I took a draft with me from the start. Since I am in charge of FESTA myself this time, I contacted the organiser around October, November last year. But they were honest and said they already planned everything so there wasn’t much left to do.”

“2! 3! I am Jin of BTS'” pic.twitter.com/hQhJSsjYVF

— 11. (@fayepjm) June 12, 2024

ALSO READ | BTS’ Jin breaks down at his military discharge, has emotional reunion with J-hope, RM, V, Jungkook and Jimin. Watch

“They asked me if I had any ideas. I said I wanted to do a free hug event, but they said no. So I asked what they planned on doing, and they said, ‘We usually rent a park, don’t we? We plan on doing it there’ and insisted on it for about a month.”

“From the company’s side, there were safety issues for these types of events, so I asked them to do it indoors. The plan was to hold the event and give hugs to the winners. Although the company said it would be hard to do it the day after being discharged. I told them I wanted to hug 3000 people. Then it became 1000 people. After that, I don’t think I paid much attention to it.”

Soon after the live, he penned a note for his ARMY and wrote, “I worked hard to prepare for FESTA. I said this to make my free hug idea stand out better, everyone. I think the meaning of what I was trying to say was conveyed incorrectly.”

[🌟 WEVERSE] #Jin wrote a new post on Weverse..

🐹 회사 페스타 준비 열심히했는데 제 프리허그 아이디어 더 잘보이려고 그냥 한 말입니다 여러분ㅠㅠ 아이디어 같이짰다고 하려고한게 의미가 잘못 전달 된 듯 해요ㅠㅠ
그리고 내일 허그 인원이 많아서 최대한 빨리 지나가주시길… pic.twitter.com/Uf5KBIzLLt

— BTS Updates, News & Charts ⁷ (@_BTSMoments_) June 12, 2024

He added, “Also, there will be a lot of huggers tomorrow, so please pass as quickly as possible. It will probably be difficult to have a conversation, so I expect that it will proceed smoothly if you just give a quick hug and pass by. Please be kind.”

During his live, Jin also requested fans to not hope for hugs from other members and neither pressure them by comparing them to him. Jin was the first and oldest member to join the military service from BTS. He began his service in December 2022.