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Will Suga’s DUI scandal damage BTS' reputation?
Suga of K-pop juggernaut BTS attends the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event held at COEX in Gangnam District, Seoul in July 2023. Newsis
By Pyo Kyung-min
Suga of K-pop supergroup BTS was recently involved in a drunk driving incident, sparking considerable social backlash and raising concerns among fans.
While ARMY, the official fandom of the internationally popular boy band, has voiced significant concerns about the potential legal troubles of a member, the incident also risks overshadowing the future of BTS, which has been previously celebrated for its scandal-free reputation.
On the night of Aug. 6, Suga was found and booked by police for riding an electric scooter while intoxicated near his residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul.
BigHit Entertainment, a subsidiary of HYBE Labels representing BTS, initially stated that "Suga was using an electric kickboard while wearing a helmet on his way home in a drunken state."
Suga also issued an apology, claiming that the vehicle he was using was none other than an electric kick scooter, commonly known as electric kickboard in Korea. "I failed to realize that it was reckless to think it was safe due to the short distance and that it was against road traffic laws to use an electric kickboard while intoxicated," he wrote.
However, what initially appeared to be the acclaimed rapper's honest admission of his mistakes turned out to be misleading. The situation escalated when it was revealed that he had been riding an electric scooter with a seat, and not an electric kickboard as initially claimed.
According to the police, the vehicle Suga was found to be riding was an electric scooter capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour. This type of scooter legally differs from electric kickboards, which have a maximum speed of less than 25 kilometers per hour and are classified as personal mobility devices.
Under Korea's Road Traffic Act, operating an electric scooter while intoxicated is subject to the same administrative penalties as driving a car under the influence. These penalties can include imprisonment for one to two years or a fine of up to 10 million won ($7,295).
Blood-alcohol level
Despite his possible ignorance of the difference between an electric kickboard and an electric scooter, public sentiment regarding the BTS member's misconduct severely worsened following the disclosure of his extremely high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at the time.
Multiple local media outlets reported that Suga claimed he "had a beer and drove for a short while" when apprehended. However, the Yongsan Police Station revealed shortly after that his BAC level was 0.227 percent, an impossibly high level with just "a glass of beer."
This BAC level is particularly controversial as it closely mirrors the 0.2 percent BAC of actor Kim Sae-ron, who in 2022 crashed into a roadside electrical transformer, while driving drunk in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul.
Suga's BAC level has also set a troubling precedent among K-pop idols who have previously been involved in drunk driving scandals.
For instance, Super Junior member Kangin, who had multiple drunk driving incidents, crashed into a streetlight in 2016 with a BAC of 0.082 percent. Former TVXQ! and current JYJ member Kim Jae-joong had a BAC of 0.071 percent during a 2006 drunk driving incident, while 2PM member Nichkhun had a BAC of 0.056 percent in 2012.
The Road Traffic Act stipulates that individuals caught driving under the influence with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher face potential penalties of one to two years in prison or fines ranging from 5 million to 10 million won.
For those found with a BAC of 0.2 percent or greater, the law imposes more severe penalties, including imprisonment for two to five years or fines ranging from 10 million to 20 million won.
An officer from the Suwon Central Police Station conducts a drunk driving check at the entrance to Mount Gwanggyo in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, April 17. Newsis
Premeditated murder
In Korea, recent tragic fatalities caused by drunk driving have contributed to the perception of such offenses as "premeditated homicide." This shift in view has also led several K-pop idols, who have been caught driving under the influence, to retreat entirely from the public eye.
In 2023, Teo from K-pop boy band DKB left the group following a drunk driving controversy and his former agency, Brave Entertainment, announced, "We informed Teo that drunk driving is absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances. After careful discussion, we accepted his decision to leave the group to prevent any harm to the other members."
Heochan from the group Victon was also caught drunk driving in 2022, prompting him to issue a handwritten apology in which he stated, “I will engrave in my heart all the criticism and reprimands for my irreversible actions, and I will strive to become someone I can be proud of by reflecting deeply.” Despite this apology, he ultimately left the group.
Additionally, in 2020, Lim Young-min, formerly of AB6IX, was caught drunk driving while returning to his dorm after drinking with acquaintances. His license was revoked and his band had to postpone its new album release and reorganize as a four-member group. Lim officially left the group a month later.
The strong negative perception of drunk driving in Korea has now cast a shadow over not only Suga's future activities but also those of the rest of the BTS members.
The six remaining bandmates — with Jin having completed his service in June — have been diligently fulfilling their military duties, with plans for a full group comeback in 2025. This is why fans have expressed deep disappointment over Suga's drunk driving incident, particularly when he was the only member serving as a social service worker.
Culture critic Jung Min-jae told The Korea Times that it is "relatively unlikely that BTS' agency will consider Suga's withdrawal from the group."
"Public sentiment about drunk driving varies significantly abroad compared to Korea, where it is viewed as a serious offense, especially for celebrities," Jung explained. "Moreover, BTS’ popularity extends far beyond the Korean fanbase, with a substantial international following. It would likely be more detrimental than beneficial for the agency to consider expelling Suga from the group."
However, Jung noted that it would be "strictly impossible" for the 31-year-old star and his agency to regain the trust of disappointed Korean fans if he continues his activities as a member.
"We will still have to wait for the results with the police investigation. However, not only did he drive drunk, but he also repeatedly provided misleading explanations, which has deeply disappointed Korean fans. Even if all the members complete their service and full group activities resume, public opinion in Korea will likely remain negative as long as Suga continues to be active."