A woman in her 30s has been formally indicted for leaving malicious, sexually offensive graffiti targeting beloved K-Pop singer BoA across various public locations in Seoul. This development comes after a period of investigation spurred by dedicated fans and BoA’s agency.
According to media reports on July 24th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s 7th Criminal Division filed non-custodial charges on July 20th against a 38-year-old woman identified as Jo. The charges include insult and property damage.
Jo stands accused of repeatedly defaming BoA with sexually offensive graffiti, using a permanent marker on public facilities such as bus stop signboards and electronic displays. These acts, which occurred eight times in Seoul’s Gangnam and Gangdong districts, were determined by prosecutors to have publicly insulted BoA and caused damage to public property.
Alarmingly, it has been reported that Jo has a history of similar offenses, having repeatedly defamed other celebrities through graffiti and accumulating multiple fines for property damage in the past.
At the time of the incidents, BoA’s passionate fanbase demonstrated incredible support and vigilance. Fans quickly shared locations and photos of the offensive graffiti on online communities, actively reporting them to the police, local governments, and BoA’s then-agency, SM Entertainment. In a heartwarming display of dedication, some fans even took it upon themselves to visit the sites and personally erase the graffiti.
The Seoul Gangnam Police Station initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint from BoA’s legal representatives in June of last year, subsequently forwarding the case to prosecutors in July.
Prosecutors cited several factors for their decision to indict Jo, including the fact that the graffiti was done in crowded public places with wide exposure, was repeated multiple times with malicious intent, and that BoA’s side had specifically requested strict punishment. This indictment sends a strong message against malicious acts targeting public figures.
