BTS’s SUGA is facing serious legal repercussions after reports revealed that his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was more than seven times the legal limit during a recent DUI incident.
On August 9, the Yongsan Police Station disclosed that SUGA’s BAC was 0.227% when he was caught operating an electric scooter. Despite SUGA’s claim that he only had one glass of beer, the elevated BAC suggests he likely consumed more.
Under South Korean law, the legal BAC limit is 0.03%. Driving with a BAC over 0.08% can result in fines ranging from 5 million KRW (3,664 USD) to 10 million KRW (7,329 USD), or imprisonment from 1 to 5 years. SUGA’s BAC of over 0.2% could lead to a fine between 10 million KRW (7,329 USD) and 20 million KRW (14,640 USD), or a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years. The police have not yet decided whether to revoke SUGA’s driver’s license, which would prevent him from obtaining a new one for a year.
Big Hit Music, SUGA’s agency, has faced criticism for allegedly downplaying the severity of the incident by emphasizing that SUGA was riding an “electric scooter” rather than a more traditional vehicle. The confusion over whether he was driving an electric scooter or a kickboard has further fueled controversy. However, South Korean law treats operating an electric scooter while intoxicated the same as driving a car under similar circumstances, and SUGA is expected to face a criminal investigation.
This incident has sparked a significant public backlash, as he misled fans by stating “he only had one glass of beer” in his official statement to the police.
Korean netizens commented:
“SUGA, are you planning to destroy everything BTS has built over 11 years with your mouth? Just quit, quit, quit.”
“You don’t get caught for drunk driving just once. He probably did it multiple times before getting caught. With all that money, he could have taken a taxi or called a driver. Taxi drivers wouldn’t even know who BTS’s SUGA is.”
“Goodbye… Thank you for your hard work with BTS all these years.”
“He’ll probably continue his activities, just not in Korea.”
“It seems he’s taken the law too lightly, intoxicated by the wealth and fame of BTS.”
“He became too cocky.”
“BTS might really become zero SUGA now.”
“Even Bang Si Hyuk can’t cover this up.”
“But if it was all going to come out anyway, why lie in the first place? Maybe he blacked out and doesn’t remember. It might all be his own misunderstanding.”
“What Koreans hate most is lying.”
“Kick him out of BTS… before he becomes the next Seungri.”
“Leave the team.”
“A public service agent drinking enough to have a blood alcohol level of 0.22% on a weekday? They should immediately check his work attendance, and if there were any privileges, make him re-enlist like they did with Psy.”
“This is unforgivable, absolutely not.”
“Honestly, if it was just one beer, he wouldn’t have been lying on the ground to the point where the police had to help him. That’s just common sense.”
“People are quick to attack. Think about everything BTS has achieved. Could any other singer or group have done that in such a short time?”
“If it was just one beer, he would have been too embarrassed to stay down and would have gotten up right away.”
“Anyway, he has tons of money. He can quit, take a break, and then make a comeback.”