Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Former Employee Involved in 'BTS Hat Sales' Says "Resigned Before Posting"

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Lim's Regular Foreign Ministry Briefing: "Waiting for Police Investigation Results"
"Hat's Whereabouts Still Unconfirmed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified on the 8th that former employee A, who was suspected of attempting to sell a lost hat belonging to BTS member Jungkook on a secondhand trading site, had "already resigned before posting the said message."

Deputy Spokesperson Lim said at the regular briefing that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not taken any separate measures against the employee."

He added, "We understand that this employee was a public service worker at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," and explained, "Since the police investigation is underway regarding this matter, we are waiting for the investigation results."

Regarding the whereabouts of the hat posted on the secondhand trading site by the former employee, he responded, "It has not been confirmed yet."

The previous day, the Seocho Police Station in Seoul stated that A had admitted to the related charges, completed the investigation, and was reviewing the applicable charges legally.

On the 17th of last month, A posted on a secondhand trading site that Jungkook had visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain a passport but left behind a hat, which he was selling for 10 million won.

He identified himself as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee and claimed, "After reporting the lost item, there were no calls or visits to claim it for six months, so the finder acquired ownership."