Newsroom Report on CCTV Footage of BTS Member Suga Riding Electric Scooter While Intoxicated

The news of BTS’s Suga, currently fulfilling military service as a social service worker, being investigated by the police for drunk driving was reported on JTBC’s “Newsroom”on August 7th.

“On August 6th, “Newsroom”shared CCTV footage of the road in Yongsan-gu, Seoul where Suga was seen riding an electric scooter at 11 p.m. According to “Newsroom”, Suga fell while parking the scooter near his home. A nearby police officer approached him and brought him to a nearby police station for a breathalyzer test. The police reported that Suga had fallen while riding the electric scooter and his blood alcohol level was found to be at a level that could result in license revocation.”

On August 7th, articles reported on an issue involving Suga. In response, he released an apology stating that he had ridden an electric scooter after drinking alcohol the previous night. He admitted that his carelessness led him to violate the Road Traffic Law, as he did not realize that operating an electric scooter while under the influence is prohibited. Suga also acknowledged that his actions had caused no harm to anyone or any property. Nonetheless, he took full responsibility for his mistake and sincerely apologized to everyone.

Big Hit Music, the agency representing Suga, issued an official statement addressing the matter and expressed their regret, stating, “We apologize to the public for the disappointment caused by our artist’s inappropriate behavior. As a social service worker, he will be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures for causing a societal controversy.”

According to a report by “Newsroom”, the vehicle utilized by Suga is referred to as a foldable electric scooter. It has a top speed of 30km/h and is categorized as a personal mobility device. In the event that a rider is caught operating the scooter while under the influence of alcohol, they will be subject to a fine and have their license revoked. For vehicles with greater maximum speeds and more powerful engines, the penalty can amount to 10 million won or a maximum imprisonment of two years.

Despite the controversy surrounding Suga’s drunk driving incident, the Military Manpower Administration clarified that social service workers who commit crimes outside of working hours will not face additional disciplinary measures beyond those imposed by the legal system.