South Korean police to question BTS Suga about DUI; also, HYBE apologizes and civil complaint filed

[varioussaints]

Follow up to this post.

BTS Suga's no good, very bad week continues. The 31-year-old BTS member (perhaps best known to ONTD readers for sampling a Jim Jones speech in his self produced mixtape) has been called in for questioning at the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul.

Suga's blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.227% and was measured after he fell to the ground from his electric scooter. For reference, 0.08% is the BAC threshold for license revocation.

Anyone driving an electric scooter with a BAC of over 0.2% violates the Road Traffic Act (which applies to both cars and electric scooters but not to the kickboard he claimed to be riding initially) and could face a maximum prison sentence of 5 years or a fine of 20M won (~$14,000 USD). Suga is being brought in for questioning as he claims he was unaware that operating his electric scooter after drinking alcohol was illegal.

On Weverse, Big Hit Music issued an apology on August 8 addressing their initial statement regarding Suga's DUI:

We would like to clarify that there was no intention to scale down the issue at hand, and it was only later that we were able to confirm that the vehicle was not a kickboard.

Previously, we described the vehicle as an 'electric kickboard' believing that it was a foldable kickboard with a seat attachment. However, while confirming the facts in detail, we learned that such vehicle models vary by performance and specifications, and as a result, the degree of the crime committed can also vary based on the model.

We would like to once again offer our apologies for failing to confirm matters in detail before relaying a statement. Once the investigators determine the exact model of the vehicle used and the consequences that can follow, we intend on taking full responsibility.

Lastly, a civil complaint has also been filed with the Seoul Regional Manpower Administration requesting a "thorough investigation" and "punishment in accordance with the violations" regarding his military service attendance. Suga has been serving as a public service worker since September 2023 in lieu of active duty.

The complaint alleges that "minimizing statements" from both Suga and HYBE showed a "sense of entitlement and authority", and that Suga should be investigated to determine not only whether he "habitually [drove] home drunk" but also whether he "habitually skipped work the next day after drinking." The police are now coordinating with Big Hit Music and the Military Manpower Administration to arrange a formal investigation into Suga's conduct.

KOREA TIMES, ALLKPOP, KOREA JOONGANG DAILY