BTS Member Faces Inevitable Criminal Charges Over Electric Scooter Drunk-driving?

Police have officially confirmed that on August 6, Suga was driving an electric scooter in Yongsan-gu, Seoul while under the influence. The scooter, which is not categorized as a personal mobility device (PM), can reach speeds exceeding 25 km/h. As a result, Suga will face the same consequences as driving a car while intoxicated.

According to reports, Suga had been riding his scooter near his residence at approximately 11:30 PM (KST) when he fell off and was found by the authorities. A breathalyzer test revealed that his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for operating a vehicle (0.08% or higher), resulting in the revocation of his license.

According to the Road Traffic Act, electric scooters are classified as motorized bicycles and are subject to the same penalties as driving a car while under the influence. These penalties can include imprisonment for 1 to 5 years or fines ranging from 5 to 20 million KRW (approx 3,600 to 14,500 USD) for a blood alcohol concentration between 0.03% and 0.2%.

Nevertheless, PMs, such as electric kickboards, are an anomaly as they only result in administrative penalties and a 100,000 KRW fine for DUI (drinking under influence). PMs are defined as vehicles that have a maximum speed of 25 km/h and a weight of less than 30 kg.

Initially, Suga’s agency claimed that he was operating an electric kickboard, but it was later discovered that he was actually riding a scooter. This could result in additional criminal charges, extending beyond the mere revocation or suspension of his license.

Suga acknowledged that he had not yet paid the fine and admitted that he was unaware of the prohibition against riding an electric kickboard while under the influence. However, police clarified that no fine had actually been issued and confirmed that the scooter was capable of exceeding 25 km/h.

Despite Suga’s initial explanation being proven false, his agency BigHit Music released a second statement, admitting, “We did not adequately consider all factors and did not intend to diminish the seriousness of the situation.”The agency acknowledged the incorrect classification of the product as an electric kickboard and pledged to fulfill any legal obligations following the conclusion of the investigation.

The information was obtained from Naver.