Adult performer who walked the streets wearing only a box remains defiant

Social Affairs

Published: 25 Oct. 2023, 19:17

Adult performer who walked the streets wearing only a box remains defiant

A woman in her 20s, identified as an adult performer and social media influencer who goes by the name Ain, wears a cardboard box and poses on the street of Apgujeong Rodeo in southern Seoul on Oct. 13. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A woman in her 20s is under police investigation after she walked around the streets of Seoul wearing only a cardboard box with holes covering her naked body.

The woman, identified as an adult performer and social media influencer who goes by the name Ain, earned the monicker “Apgujeong Box Girl” after a video of her wandering around Apgujeong-dong in southern Seoul on Oct. 13, letting bypassing men touch her breasts inside the box, went viral.

She was spotted again last Saturday wearing the same box outfit, encouraging people to put their hands in the holes of the box she was wearing and touch her breasts in Hongdae, western Seoul.

The box she was wearing was labeled the “Angel Box.”

In an interview with local media outlet Ilyo Shinmun on Oct. 13, the controversial performer and her company said they planned the “performance” to subvert conventional sexual taboos in Korea.

“I thought it was a fun idea as I believed it is illogical to punish women for not wearing clothes while it wasn't the case for men when they go shirtless,” the woman was quoted as saying, referring to herself as an attention seeker.

“I actually saw many positive reactions, with people telling me they support me and applaud my courage.”

Police booked her case and are investigating her on charges of public indecency, according to the Mapo Police Precinct in western Seoul on Monday.

The two other men who allegedly helped her to interview people on the streets and filmed her were also under investigation on the same charges.

Those convicted of public indecency face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to five million won.

On the day she was caught by the police in Hongdae, she apologized to her fans through social media, saying that she wanted to stay longer but had to leave because of the police.

However, despite being investigated by the police, the woman is anticipated to hold another “fan-meet” event where she will be conducting the box performance again.

She posted on her account on X, formerly known as Twitter, earlier in the week that she would host a fan event in southern Seoul this Saturday with only 30 fans who would pay 650,000 won ($480) to see her.

According to a post on Tuesday, 109 people signed up for the event.

In August, four women who wore bikinis and rode a motorcycle were detained by the police for “excessive exposure” of their bodies.

However, they were merely accused of violating the Minor Offenses Act, with penalties of up to 100,000 won.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]