A South Korean court has handed a suspended prison sentence to a Brazilian woman convicted of repeatedly stalking BTS member Jungkook, including ringing the singer’s doorbell 133 times in a single day. The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the unidentified woman to one year in prison, suspended for two years, after finding her guilty of violating South Korea’s anti-stalking law and committing trespass-related offences. The ruling was delivered by Judge Park Ji-won on May 8, 2026, but details became public through South Korean media reports on June 22 and 23.
According to court proceedings, the woman began appearing outside Jungkook’s residence in Seoul’s Yongsan district on December 7, 2025. Over the following weeks, she reportedly visited the house or its surrounding area at least 22 times. She waited outside the property, threw objects over its wall and left letters, photographs and other items near the residence. Prosecutors said she repeatedly attempted to attract the singer’s attention despite having no personal relationship with him.
The most alarming incident occurred on December 12, when the woman pressed Jungkook’s doorbell 133 times. The court described the behaviour as demonstrating an “extreme level of obsession.” A day later, on December 13, she allegedly followed a food-delivery worker through a side entrance in an attempt to gain access to the property. Police arrested her at the scene, although reports indicate that she did not succeed in entering Jungkook’s home itself.
She was released the following day and warned not to return. However, the woman continued approaching the property despite the police warning. On December 28, authorities imposed an emergency protective measure prohibiting her from coming within 100 metres of Jungkook or his residence. She allegedly violated that restriction by returning to the area in January, and police referred the case to prosecutors in February.
During the proceedings, the woman said her actions were motivated by love for Jungkook. The court, however, treated the repeated visits, unwanted communications and attempts to access his property as criminal stalking rather than fan devotion. Jungkook reportedly requested severe punishment, while the court stressed that the defendant had continued committing stalking offences even after being arrested, warned and formally ordered to stay away.
The prosecution had sought a tougher punishment, but judges decided to suspend the one-year prison term. Under the ruling, the woman will not serve the sentence immediately provided that she does not commit another offence or breach the conditions of her two-year probation. The court considered several mitigating factors, including its finding that she had acted because of romantic obsession but had not intended to physically harm Jungkook. Judges also considered the approximately three months she had already spent in detention.
The woman is expected to be deported from South Korea once the ruling becomes final, unless an appeal changes the outcome. The court reportedly viewed deportation as reducing the likelihood that she would approach Jungkook again. The case involved violations of South Korea’s anti-stalking legislation, which allows authorities to intervene when a person repeatedly approaches, follows or contacts someone against their wishes and causes fear or anxiety. Trespassing accusations arose from the attempt to enter the residential property by following the delivery worker.
The suspended sentence has generated criticism among some BTS supporters, commonly known as ARMY, who argued online that the punishment appeared too lenient considering the number of visits, the ignored warnings and the violation of the 100-metre restriction. Fans have renewed calls for stronger security around Jungkook and tougher consequences for so-called “sasaeng” behaviour, a term used in the K-pop industry for obsessive individuals who invade artists’ private lives. Reports of fan responses have emphasised that admiration does not give anyone the right to visit an artist’s home, track their movements or force personal contact.
The case is particularly concerning because Jungkook has previously spoken about unwanted visits and deliveries at his home. In June 2025, shortly after he completed mandatory military service, a Chinese woman was arrested after allegedly attempting to enter his residence by repeatedly trying its door code. Another woman was arrested near his home later that year after entering a private parking area.
No new public statement from Jungkook or BIGHIT MUSIC was widely reported alongside the sentencing. Nevertheless, the judgment sends a clear message that celebrity status does not remove an individual’s right to privacy and safety. The incident has also intensified debate over whether suspended sentences and deportation are sufficient deterrents when stalking continues despite arrests, court restrictions and repeated warnings from law-enforcement authorities.
