Japanese BTS Jimin Lookalike ‘Pachi Jimin’ Suspends Activities After HYBE Warning
A Japanese influencer known online as “Pachi Jimin,” who has built a following by imitating BTS member Jimin, has announced that he is temporarily suspending his activities after receiving an official notice from HYBE’s label BigHit Music.
Pachi Jimin revealed on social media on September 19 that he had been contacted by BigHit Music regarding his activities under the name “Pachi Jimin.”
He said he was reviewing the contents of the notice and would temporarily halt activities under the name until the matter was resolved.
According to his subsequent statement on September 23, the document addressed issues related to both his activities and the use of the name “Pachi Jimin.” He also said the document indicated that BigHit Music had entrusted HYBE JAPAN with delivering the notice.
From Jimin Impersonation to Paid Performances
Pachi Jimin gained attention on social media by mimicking BTS’s Jimin, but his activities eventually expanded beyond online content.
He has held paid performances in Japan and South Korea. In July 2025, he reportedly held a performance titled “Pachi Jimin World Tour Come Back” at Onmam Theater in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Tickets were reportedly priced at 55,000 won for VIP seats and 33,000 won for general admission.
He also released music in South Korea. On December 6, 2023, he released a single titled “Mandu Cake” through Korean music platforms, introducing himself as a Japanese influencer who had gained popularity on TikTok for mimicking BTS member Jimin.
Controversy Surrounding the ARI Promotion
The controversy grew further in August 2026 when Pachi Jimin participated in a promotional event for ARI, a food and beverage brand created in connection with BTS and Korean food companies hy and Paldo.
The ARI Japan promotional event was held in Tokyo’s Shibuya district from August 19 to 23 to mark the brand’s entry into the Japanese market.
Pachi Jimin attended the event, and ARI Japan’s official social media account subsequently shared a post featuring his participation. The move triggered criticism from BTS fans.
ARI Japan later apologized on August 26, stating that it had not conducted sufficient prior verification of the invited participants and that communication surrounding official events should have been handled more carefully and responsibly.
BigHit Music Continues to Protect BTS’s Rights
The latest development comes amid BigHit Music’s ongoing efforts to protect BTS’s intellectual property and related rights.
In March 2026, BigHit Music announced that it was continuing to take action against activities involving unauthorized merchandise and other forms of infringement related to BTS’s intellectual property.
Following the official notice, Pachi Jimin has apologized again and said he will suspend activities using the “Pachi Jimin” name while the matter is being reviewed.
The situation has drawn attention to the challenges surrounding celebrity impersonation, commercial activities involving lookalikes, and the protection of artists’ names and intellectual property in the K-pop industry.