BLACKPINK star Jisoo’s older brother is at the center of a sexual misconduct investigation in Seoul that has fans and critics buzzing across the U.S. and beyond. Kim Jung-hoon, 37, was detained by Gangnam police on April 16 after a female internet streamer accused him of non-consensual physical contact following a paid dinner date she won in a raffle on her streaming platform. He admitted to some physical contact but denied using force. Prosecutors turned down a request for an arrest warrant the next day, calling the evidence insufficient, yet the probe into sexual misconduct, blackmail, and possible illegal filming continues.
The incident unfolded after the streamer, known in Korean online circles as a BJ or broadcast jockey, ran a raffle on the SOOP platform around April 12. Kim bought hundreds of tickets and won an expensive dinner date voucher worth roughly $2,030. On April 14 the pair met for dinner and drinks in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district. According to the woman’s account, Kim then took her to his home, where she says he ignored her repeated refusals, restrained her, and engaged in forced physical contact. She later sent urgent messages to her manager saying things like “He won’t let me leave” and expressing fear for her safety, reports say. She also claimed he threatened her with intimate photos or videos to keep her quiet.
A tweet from X.
Kim told police he admitted to physical contact but maintained it was mutual and consensual. He denied any use of force.
The Gangnam Police Department arrested Kim on April 16 based on the Special Act on Sexual Violence in South Korea. However, on April 17, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office denied this request due to lack of evidence. Kim was freed, although the case continues to be investigated by the police department. The court proceedings have not commenced yet, nor have any charges been filed.
Jisoo’s agency, BLISSOO, moved quickly to separate her from the story. In a statement issued April 20 through the law firm Kim & Chang, the agency said:
“The matter currently being raised has no connection whatsoever to the artist or Blissoo, and much of the information being spread online consists of unconfirmed speculation or clearly false claims.”
It added that Jisoo has lived separately from her family since her trainee days, has no knowledge of the matter, and is providing no financial or legal support. The statement also noted Kim holds no role or ownership in BLISSOO.
Despite the clear distancing, Jisoo started trending because U.S. and global audiences often connect family members to celebrities in headline culture. Many early posts simply read “BLACKPINK Jisoo’s brother arrested,” pulling her name into the mix even though she has zero involvement.
It did not take long for the combination of a K-pop star, a victimized streamer, and accusations of blackmail following a meetup after a raffle like a fan would organize to make waves on X, TikTok, and Reddit. Discussions about the role of money, power, and how fast rumors spread regarding an idol’s family became prevalent in forums dedicated to Korean netizens as well as on American pages dedicated to K-pop fans. In addition to this, the accusations that had surfaced in 2025 of Kim secretly recording a video and being abusive to a woman she claims is his wife have been brought back into the limelight.
In this scenario, we see how quickly gossip in the digital world can be used to draw a connection between a global celebrity such as Jisoo and any legal problems of a member of her family.
