The controversy escalated when his agency referred to the vehicle involved as an “electric kickboard”, causing some to believe they were trying to downplay the seriousness of the incident. In response, the agency issued a second apology. The news also caught the attention of major international media, who expressed worries, particularly as excitement was growing for BTS’s upcoming full-group activities in the following year.
On August 7th, Suga and his agency BigHit Music released a statement apologizing for the incident. At first, they referred to the vehicle as an “electric kickboard”, however, the police identified it as an “electric scooter”because of the added seat. According to South Korean traffic laws, electric scooters are considered “vehicles”, meaning that if a person is caught driving one while under the influence, they may face penalties such as license suspension or revocation, fines, and even criminal charges. The agency clarified that they had described the vehicle as an electric kickboard with a seat, not to downplay the seriousness of the situation. They also acknowledged that their initial statement may not have been thorough enough and apologized for any haste
Despite Suga’s DUI, the story was extensively covered by numerous international outlets such as The New York Times, Billboard, and the BBC. According to The New York Times, Suga’s license was revoked and he was fined for driving a scooter while under the influence. Additionally, the BBC pointed out that Suga is currently an alternative service worker due to his past shoulder surgery and included his apology, in which he stated his willingness to accept any consequences from his workplace.
As a public service worker, Suga is currently scheduled to be discharged in June 2025. Due to the fact that the incident occurred outside of his working hours, it is unlikely that he will receive any further penalties from the Military Manpower Administration.
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